MALI: American Woman Killed In Mali Terror Attack Was From Western Mass.

Malians woke up Saturday to a state of emergency after Friday's shocking assault on the Radisson Blu hotel in the capital, which a military commander said killed at least 20 people plus two assailants.

Special units of the armed forces of Mali, with the support of the French security services began to assault the building and pushed the attacking troops to the upper floors, where an intense battle continued.

The al-Qaida-claimed attack on a Mali hotel may have been partly aimed at asserting the global terror network's relevance as it faces an unprecedented challenge from the Islamic State group for leadership of the global jihadi movement.

The gunmen burst through the hotel security barrier at about 7:00 a.m. (0700 GMT) Friday on a auto with diplomatic plates, spraying gunfire and shouting "Allahu Akbar", ("God is great" in Arabic). More than 100 other hostages were rescued by Malian forces at the hotel in Bamako. The statement from the Al-Mourabitoun (The Sentinels) group said the assault was in co-operation with al-Qaida's "Sahara Emirate".

France, the former colonial power in Mali, intervened in the country in January 2013, when al-Qaeda-linked militants threatened to march on Bamako after taking control of the north of the country.

In the northern Mali regions of Timbuktu and Kidal, new leaflets were distributed on Saturday warning against collaboration with the Malian army, France and the United Nations peacekeeping mission, Sidati said.

The foreign victims included Russian, Chinese, Belgian, an American and a Senegalese nationals. At least one guest reported the attackers instructed him to recite verses from the Qur'an as proof of his Muslim faith before he was allowed to leave.

The attack may also be a way for al-Qaida and its allies to assert itself in the face of the highly publicized string of attacks carried out by its chief rival in jihad, the Islamic State group.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said six of its citizens died in the raid, while China's government said three Chinese were killed. "They have lost a lot of leaders in the last three years because of the French military intervention". During the assault two militants were killed.

Keita had been attending a security summit in Chad on Friday but returned to Mali and convened an emergency cabinet meeting.

"China will improve worldwide cooperation to crack down on terrorist activities that kill innocents and safeguard peace and stability of the world", Xi said.

"We believe that all African people will also strongly condemn and oppose the brutal crime", he said.

The lone American killed in Friday's terrorist attack in Mali was a native of western MA. Nothing changes in Mali.

MALI: West Africa's Lost Treasure Suffering From Terrorist Attack Again.

“West Africa’s lost treasure,” is how the overland company, Dragoman, describes Mali. For World Music aficionados, it is one of the richest countries in the world, with creativity flowing as powerfully as the Niger River.

In normal circumstances thousands of British travellers would now be flying south to engage with Mali’s imperial history, wild terrain and diverse wildlife - many of them heading for Timbuktu, an ancient seat of learning.

But these are not normal times, and the northern border with Algeria has proved a porous route for warriors and weapons.

The latest Lonely Planet guide to West Africa devotes just four pages to a country five times bigger than Britain, saying: “Its landscapes, monuments, mosques and music bars are off-limits, sealed from tourists by a conflict that is threatening the culture of this remarkable country."

Even before the bloody events in the capital, Bamako, Mali was on the Foreign Office danger list.

“Maintain several days’ stock of food and water in case disturbances take place,” recommends the Foreign Office. “There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnap.”

The north of Mali receives the most stringent FCO warning, “Avoid all travel,” because of a wave of jihadist terrorism. As this murderous attack shows, the horrors are spreading south.

For West Africa’s travel industry - which for the most part is embryonic - the Bamako assault will only spread the tourism blight that haunts the region. Ghana attracts discerning travellers, and Senegal and The Gambia are well prepared for sunseeking French and British holidaymakers. But the tone of much of media coverage of the Ebola crisis triggered unfounded fears among many prospective visitors - which spread even as far as the Cape Verde Islands, 350 miles off the coast of the African mainland.

In the immediate future, West Africa’s treasures will remain a secret. But as the new-found popularity of formerly war-torn countries such as Nicaragua and Vietnam shows, tourism can form an important part of a nation’s recovery.