The siege of a popular hotel in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, is over after security forces stormed the hotel which was under siege since Friday evening, the country’s interior minister has said.

At Least 126 people have been freed and three “jihadists” killed in the operation backed by the French forces to retake the Splendid Hotel, in the city centre, Interior Minister Simon Compaore told Reuters news agency.

The minister said that at least 10 bodies were found in a cafe opposite the besieged luxury hotel, adding that security operations were continuing to flush out gunmen holed up in Yidi hotel.

At least 22 people have been killed in the attack, the first such assault in the capital of Burkina Faso – while 33 of the freed hostages are being treated for injuries.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for the attack, SITE Intelligence Group, a monitoring organisation, reported.

The 147-room Splendid Hotel, which is popular with foreigners and diplomats, was stormed by the gunmen on Friday night after the nearby Cappuccino Cafe was struck by heavy gunfire. Al Jazeera