A Mali trooper, left, assist a hostage, second left, to leave the scene, from the Radisson Blu hotel to safety after gunmen attacked the hotel in Bamako, Mali, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday condemned what he called the “appalling” militant hostage siege in Mali that left at least 27 people dead, including an American citizen.

“This barbarity only stiffens our resolve to meet this challenge,” he said during a visit to Malaysia, referring to the global threat of extremist violence.

Gun-toting militants took more than 100 people hostage for around nine hours at a top hotel in Mali’s capital Bamako on Friday.

The assault was claimed by the Al-Murabitoun group, an Al-Qaeda affiliate led by notorious one-eyed Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar.

The incident added to fears over the global militant threat a week after the devastating Paris attacks that killed 130 people and were claimed by ISIS.

Special forces staged a dramatic floor-by-floor assault to end the Mali siege after about nine hours.

Speaking on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Kuala Lumpur, Obama said “the terrorists began ruthlessly killing people and taking hostages” at the Bamako hotel.

“On behalf of the American people I want to extend our deepest condolences to the people of Mali and the victims’ families, including at least one American,” he said.

“These were innocent people who had everything to live for.”

Malian security sources said at least 27 hostages were killed.

U.S. officials have confirmed one U.S. citizen was among them, with another dozen Americans surviving the attack.

‘State of emergency’

Mali’s government declared a 10-day nationwide state of emergency after the attack.

Following a crisis cabinet session presided over by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita the government “declared a state of emergency across the nation” starting at midnight Friday for 10 days, a statement read on national radio said.

It also called for three days of mourning for the victims of the attack, which was claimed by the Al-Murabitoun group of notorious Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar in an audio recording broadcast by Al-Jazeera television.

Related articles across the web

• Australia, US warn of potential terror threat in Kuala Lumpur
• U.S. embassy issues terrorism warning for street in Malaysian capital
• Impossibly Amazing Places to Visit in Kuala Lumpur
• US embassy warns of terrorist threat for tourist street in Kuala Lumpur
• Malaysia: Crony Capitalism alive and well with Najib
• Jailed opposition leader urges unity against Malaysian government
• 'Red shirts' could hold Penang rally, DAP warned
• Malaysia arrests eight in connection with Bangkok shrine bombing
• Malaysia Detains 8 Suspects for Questioning About Thai Blast
• As Malaysian leader struggles in graft scandal, his party plays the race card