Four hostages have been freed after Malian forces, backed by French soldiers, ended the siege of a hotel in Mali. <br /><br /> Suspected Islamist militants reportedly killed at least six other people, including five government soldiers and a peacekeeping mission worker.<br /><br /> Gunmen attacked the Byblos Hotel used by UN staff in the town of Sevare, around six-hundred kilometres northeast of the capital Bamako early on Friday. <br /><br /> Three attackers, one strapped with explosives, were killed.<br /><br /> The nationalities of the freed hostages have not been given. Ukraine and Russia previously confirmed that their citizens were among those held. <br /><br /> Remnants of al-Qaeda linked insurgency appear to be stepping up a campaign against Malian troops and United Nations staff.
