(VOVworld) - Mali's government declared a 10-day nationwide state of emergency Friday evening after a jihadist attack on a hotel in the capital Bamako that left least 27 people dead.

Local and international soldiers stand guard in front of the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015 (AFP Photo/Habibou Kouyate)

Following a crisis cabinet session presided over by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita the government "declared a state of emergency across the nation" starting at midnight Friday for 10 days. It also called for three days of mourning for the victims of the attack.

The attack took place on Friday. Armed Islamist extremists barged into a luxury hotel taking 170 people hostages, including citizens from the US, France, China, India and Algeria.

The jihadists Al-Mourabitoun in North Mali, which has relations with al-Qaeda group, claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Earlier, two US special forces in Bamako worked with Mali army to save the hostages.  UN Chief Ban-Ki Moon strongly criticized the attack and expressed condolence with the victims’ relatives.