Turkey condemns terrorist attack on Mali hotel, pledges to support Mali against terrorism

Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned the terrorist attack in Mali, which killed 19 people.

"We strongly and vehemently condemn the terrorist attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital of Bamako in which 170 people were taken hostage and many people lost their lives," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement added that Turkey would continue to support Mali against terrorism.

Seven Turkish Airlines staff were among the surviving hostages and the ministry thanked the Malian security forces and French UN soldiers for freeing the staff.

Six of the staff were safely brought back to Istanbul on Saturday morning.

Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists have claimed responsibility for the attacks.