There are "victims and hostages" in the ongoing attack on a hotel in central Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Alpha Barry told AFP Friday, adding that a counter-assault was being prepared, possibly with the support of French forces. 

"We know that there are victims and there are hostages. Currently the area is blocked by security forces waiting for an assault to free the hostages," said the minister.

"At the moment, these are Burkinabe forces but we are not ruling out possible support of foreign forces including French special forces."