The Rezidor Hotel Group, which operates the Radisson Blu in Bamako, has published a statement on the hotel's website.
It reads:
"The Rezidor Hotel Group...is aware of the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property today, 20th November 2015. As per our information, two persons have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees. Our safety and security teams and our corporate team are in constant contact with the local authorities in order to offer any support possible to reinstate safety and security at the hotel. At this point, we do not have further information and continue to closely monitor the situation."
In a second statement shared with RFE/RL by email, Rezidor said:
We are extremely concerned about the situation in Mali and for the safety of all our guests and employees in the hotel. Our safety & security teams and corporate team are in constant contact with the authorities there, and will share further information with you when we have it.
The Radisson Blu is popular with ex-pats working in Mali.
Sky News has tweeted some footage of the scene outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako.
A number of Chinese guests are among those trapped in the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, China's state-run Xinhua news agency is reporting.
"A Chinese guest surnamed Chen told Xinhua via WeChat mobile app that he was among a number of Chinese guests trapped in the hotel," Xinhua said.
It is not known exactly how many Chinese guests are among those trapped in the hotel.
An eye witness to the Mali hotel attack says that the gunmen arrived in a car this morning with diplomatic plates. They were wearing masks.
The gunmen who attacked the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali are moving from floor to floor, a senior security source says.
The official Twitter account of Mali's President's office has tweeted about the attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako.
Here's what we know so far about the siege in Mali:
-- The attack began at 0700 GMT, according to Reuters.
-- As many as 10 gunmen have taken 170 people -- 140 guests and 30 employees -- hostage at the American-owned Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako.
-- The gunmen shouted "Allahu Akbar," (God is great) as they stormed the hotel, a security source told Reuters.
-- At least three hostages are dead, according to an unnamed Malian minister who spoke to the AFP news agency.
-- The gunmen have released some hostages able to recite verses of the Quran, according to Reuters' security source.
-- AFP also says that around a dozen hostages have been escorted from the hotel.
-- A Malian minister told AFP that Mali security forces have stormed the hotel.
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest person, has tweeted to deny reports in some media outlets that he was one of the hostages in the Mali hotel siege.
Dangote says he was in Mali yesterday.
AFP say at least three people killed in the Mali hotel siege. It's still not clear to which group the gunmen belong.
Some 170 people have been taken hostage at a luxury hotel in Mali's capital Bamako by gunmen shouting "Islamic slogans," Reuters is reporting.
The identity of the group to which the Bamako gunmen belong is not yet known.
Some 10 gunmen are thought to have stormed the Radisson Blu hotel, which is near government ministries and diplomatic offices.
The hostages include French nationals, "at least seven" Chinese people and six Turkish Airlines staff members, reports are saying.
There are unconfirmed reports that several people have been killed.
The New York Times World Twitter account tweeted this AP photo of people fleeing the hotel after it was stormed by militants.