UNSC condemns terror attack in Burkina Faso

United Nations, Jan 17: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned in the strongest terms the terror attack at a hotel in Burkina Faso capital Ougadougou that has left at least 23 people dead, a media report said on Sunday.

Security forces freed 126 hostages from the Splendid Hotel seized by militants from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and killed four attackers on Saturday, Xinhua reported.

Ten foreigners are among the victims, including six Canadians and two French and two Swiss nationals.

The members of the council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Burkina Faso, as well as to all governments whose citizens were targeted in these attacks, the UNSC said in a statement.

Reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, the UNSC "underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice".

The Splendid Hotel often hosts Westerners, including UN staff and journalists.

IANS