French special forces take position in the surroundings of the Splendid hotel following an attack by Al-Qaeda linked gunmen on Saturday in Ouagadougou. Photo: Ouoba Ahmed AFP

VOVworld) - Gilles Thibault, France's ambassador to Burkina Faso, said 27 were dead while 150 hostages of 18 nationalities have been rescued from the attack on Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso.

Secretary General of the International Francophonie Organization (OIF), Michaelle Jean, has condemned the attack, adding that the attack can not change the international community’s support for Burkina Faso in its fight against terrorism.

US State Department spokesperson John Kirby said the US strongly condemns the attack in Ouagadougou and sends its deepest condolences to the victims’ families.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has condemned what he called the "heinous terrorist attacks" carried out in Burkina Faso on Friday. In a statement issued in response to the attacks, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon extended his "deepest condolences to the families of the victims". Mr Ban said the UN remained committed to fighting terrorism in West Africa, and elsewhere in the world. He urged the government of Burkina Faso to do everything possible to bring those responsible to justice.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau strongly condemned the attack which killed 6 Canadians. France and Switzerland confirmed two French and Swiss were killed in the attack.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al Qaeda’s official branch in North Africa, has claimed responsibility for the attack on one of the biggest hotels in Ouagadougou. It said the attack was in retaliation to France and western countries’ increasing efforts to prevent attacks to cause instability in the region.