BREAKING: Gunmen hold 170 guests, staff hostage in Bamako hotel in Mali

Two gunmen took 170 hostages during an attack on the Hotel Radisson in the Malian capital, Bamako, Agence France-Presse reported, citing the hotel group.

''The attack is ongoing,” United Nations spokesman Olivier Salgado said by phone from the capital. “What we know is that the attackers are in the hotel and have automatic weapons.''

UN forces and Malian government troops are at the scene, he said. The French and U.S. embassies confirmed that the attack was under way.