5 people killed in bar shooting

5 people have been killed in a shooting in a bar in the Malian capital, Bamako.

According to CNN, the 5 are said to include 1 French citizen, 1 Belgian and three Malians.

Speaking with news men, the director of a local hospital, Gabriel Toure said an additional 8 people were also injured in the attack.

French President Francois Hollande has since released a statement condemning the attack. He said there is a possibility but no confirmation of a French victim.

The French embassy has also placed its citizens on alert if they go out in public.

Though there has been no confirmation as to whether a rebel group is responsible for the attack, Malian forces have battled Islamist militants in the northern part of the nation for years.

Mali plunged into chaos after soldiers staged a coup 3 years ago. which led Tuareg fighters to capitalize on the power vacuum to launch an insurgency that ended with their takeover of the north.

The country has since battled several rebel groups with the help of French and African forces.