France's Hollande says everything being done to free Bamako hotel hostages

French President Francois Hollande walks in the courtyard of the Hotel des Invalides during a ceremony in Paris, France, November 19, 2015. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

PARIS (Reuters) - Everything is being done to release hostages at a Bamako hotel that was attacked earlier on Friday by Islamist gunmen, French President Francois Hollande said. "The raid has started and we will use all the means available to us on the ground to free the hostages," Hollande said ahead of a speech he was giving on climate change talks. "There are tourists and companies officials from different countries," he said. (Reporting By John Irish; editing by Leigh Thomas)