Gunmen attack beach resort in Ivory Coast

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast

At least 22 people, including six suspected attackers were killed in an attack on a beach resort located some 40 kilometers away from Ivory Coast's commercial city of Abidjan Sunday, government officials said.

"The toll is heavy, the terrorists killed 14 civilians and we lost two members of our special forces," Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara told reporters at the Grand-Bassam resort.

Ivorian Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko earlier announced that six attackers involved in the attack had been neutralized.

Security sources also said the death toll may rise because many people were seriously injured.

After the attack, Ivorian defense and security forces led by the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Soumaila Bakayoko, were immediately deployed at the scene and there was an exchange of gunfire between the assailants and security forces.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on its al-Andalus Media website. It said that three assailants were involved in the attack.

Recent months have seen sporadic militant attacks on hotels in West Africa.

AQIM also claimed responsibility for recent attacks against hotels in Mali and Burkina Faso in the past.