Thread: Reports: 126 hostages rescued after suspected terror attack in Burkina Faso

There were also reports of bodies at the Cappucino cafe across from the hotel, Reuters reported.

The local al-Qaida affiliate known as AQIM claimed responsibility online as the attack was ongoing in Ouagadougou, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.

The U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou said on Twitter that it is "closely following the situation downtown."

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, but jihadists have attacked hotels before in neighboring Mali, including a devastating attack on the Radisson Bluhotel in November that left 20 people dead. While Burkina Faso, a largely Muslim country, has largely been spared the violence wracked by Islamic extremist groups in Mali, a Romanian national was abducted last April.

The country has also seen times of political turmoil since its longtime leader was ousted by an uprising in 2014. In September, a coup led by presidential guards collapsed after only a week.

The attacks follow growing tension in the wake of a coup that collapsed in September. The newly installed government recently issued an arrest warrant for Guillaume Soro, the head of the National Assembly in neighboring Ivory Coast, for his alleged involvement in the failed coup attempt.

In addition, new President Roch Marc Kabore broke with the past Wednesday by picking a cabinet packed with ministers who had not served under the previous administration of Blaise Compaore, who was president for 27 years. Compaore went into exile in Ivory Coast after being ousted in an uprising in 2014.

The warrant was issued through Interpol and the foreign ministry, according to prosecutor Col. Sita Sangare, the Associated Press reported. It was not immediately clear if the latest unrest was related to the previous coup efforts.

Soro allegedly offered to give support to coup leaders in phone calls to Burkina Faso's former foreign affairs minister Djibril Bassole, Sangare said, adding the calls will be used as part of the prosecution. The calls, however, have not yet been authenticated.

Bassole was arrested and jailed at the end of September on accusations he helped support coup leader Col. Gilbert Diendere, who is also now jailed. Bassole has denied the allegations. Diendere has been charged with crimes against humanity for the deaths of 15 people and the wounding of about 250 others around the coup attempt.

Bassole was a high-ranking minister under former Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, who is now in exile in Ivory Coast after being ousted in a popular uprising in October 2014.

Reports: 126 hostages rescued after suspected terror attack in Burkina Faso

'They would check if the white people were moving then shoot them again': Survivors describe how Al Qaeda jihadis targeted Westerners during a 15-hour terror ordeal in Burkina Faso

Survivors of the massacre in Burkina Faso have claimed the attackers executed those they thought were still alive

Others said they were targeting Westerners by kicking those injured and then shooting them if they saw a reaction

Some 29 people from 18 different nations were killed in the attack, which lasted 15 hours in the country's capital

It only ended when Burkinabe special forces, assisted by French commandos, stormed the hotel under attack

Al-Qaeda has now claimed responsibility for the attack in which four terrorists shot up a cafe and popular hotel

Survivors of the harrowing attack in Burkina Faso have described how jihadis targeted Westerners by executing those who looked to be European as they lay injured after being gunned down.

At least one American and six Canadians, as well as French, Dutch and Swiss nationals are among the 29 people from 18 different countries killed during the 15-hour terror attack by Al-Qaeda militants.

Burkinabe special forces, assisted by 30 French special forces, broke the lengthy siege last night by storming the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou. Three of the gunmen were killed after a firefight before the hotel was re-captured by special forces.

Read more: Burkina Faso survivors describe how Al Qaeda jihadis targeted Westerners