TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned a Friday terrorist attack on a hotel in the Malian capital of Bamako that killed 19 people.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari expressed sympathy on Saturday with Mali’s government and nation on the deaths of innocent people in the incident.

Describing extremism and terrorism as common threats to the world, the Iranian spokesman called for concerted efforts by all countries in the fight against the inhumane phenomena.

Early on Friday, heavily armed gunmen stormed the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, seizing scores of hostages and leaving bodies strewed across the building.

Terrorist groups al-Mourabitoun and al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack, which ended when Malian commandos entered the building and rescued 170 people, many of them foreigners.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said two militants were killed in the commando operation.

His government increased security at strategic points around Bamako at the start of a declared 10-day state of emergency.

By Tasnim News Agency