According to local TV reports, 80 hostages have been freed from the situation at the Radisson Blu Hotel. (AFP)
Twelve Air France employees who were staying at the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako when it was stormed by gunmen today are in a "safe place", the company said.
"The whole of the Air France team is now in a safe place," a company statement said, indicating it was in "constant contact" with its team of two pilots and 10 cabin crew members.
All Air France flights into and out of Bamako have been cancelled after two gunmen stormed the hotel earlier today, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage situation that has claimed at least three lives.
Around 80 of the hostages were later freed, local television reports said.
An elite unit of French paramilitary police specialised in hostage situations flew from Paris earlier today to assist the Malian security forces.