16/01/2016 BBC Weekend News

Authorities in the West African country of Burkina Faso say 24

people were killed in an attack on a hotel last night

120 hostages were freed after local troops, backed by French special

A group linked to Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility.

The attack took place in the Burkina Faso's capital,

Ouagadougou, at a luxury hotel popular with Westerners.

The operation to kill all the militants lasted

A single extremist was said to be holding out in a nearby hotel,

but the authorities believe the incident is now over.

The president called on his people to be vigilant and brave.

They needed to fight back against terrorist acts.

Overnight, the militants stormed the Splendid Hotel and a nearby cafe

popular with UN staff and foreigners.

The fightback was led by local forces, supported by dozens

Some reports said at least two women were among the four militants killed

in the operation to take back the hotel.

TRANSLATION: When they left, they set fire to The Cappuccino.

The smoke started to suffocate me and other survivors.

The injured were treated at local hospitals.

Some traumatised survivors spoke of the militants' murderous intent.

TRANSLATION: They started shooting, shooting, and everybody laid down

As soon as you lifted your head you would get shot straightaway,

They even came to touch our feet to check if we were alive.

Explosions thought to be car bombs started ringing throughout

A militant group called Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has claimed

They said it was directed at the nations of nonbelief.

The country borders Mali, which saw a similar attack last year. Two

militants killed 20 people at a luxury hotel in the capital, Bamako,

before being killed by the security forces.

The dead in this latest attack are said to come

Burkina's president said the attack was cowardly and vile.

Iran's Foreign Minister says he expects international sanctions

against his country, in place for over a decade,

Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry have arrived

in the Austrian capital Vienna where a UN report on Iran's nuclear

programme are expected to give a green light to a loosening

Our Diplomatic Correspondent Bridget Kendall is there.

This sounds like it could be a very big moment indeed?

It is a significant milestone, sanctions on Iran have been the most

complex and extensive in the world and today, with one fell swoop, most

could be lifted. The process will go like this, first report from the UN

nuclear watchdog here at the UN headquarters in Vienna to say that

Iran has done enough to mothball enough of its nuclear activities to

reassure the world that it no longer represents an imminent threat. That

is the green light for sanctions from the UN, from the EU, from the

United States, many of them, to be lifted, and the US Secretary of

State here, John Kerry, and also the EU foreign policy representative

will be here in person to pledge they are keeping their side of the

bargain, too. It won't all happen overnight, obviously when you get an

economic shift like this, companies, banks, have to be sure that when the

sanctions are lifted they could still not come in for recriminations

if they start having activities with Iran. But it is thought this will

open the door for Iran to engage in the world, sell if oil, invite in

foreign companies. A very big change. A big change

indeed, Bridget. Thanks very much. Greek authorities say three children

and a baby died yesterday trying to make the dangerous

journey by sea from Turkey. The baby was found dead on a boat

carrying more than 60 people. The children drowned

after their dinghy got into trouble in the Aegean sea near the small

island of Agathonisi. Greece is the main entry point

into the European Union More than 850,000 people entered

the country last year, nearly all by sea, many

fleeing the war in Syria. Here, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

has been outlining his plans In a speech in London in the last

hour, he said a Labour Government would ban companies from paying

dividends to shareholders unless they pay workers

the Living Wage. Matt Cole was watching

and joins us now. Yes, Jeremy Corbyn's speed about an

hour ago, a chance for him to regain some of the political initiative

after a bumpy start to 2016 and the difficulties with his shadow

cabinet. Weaving through this, if the theme of fairness, something he

said the Conservatives only talk about but which he and Labour

committee said, could act upon. Most interesting, the idea of banning

companies from paying dividends to their shareholders until workers are

on at least the living wage, ?7.85 outside of London, ?9.15 in it. That

idea has not gone down well with the Confederation of British Industry.

They say pretty much that Mr Corbyn should mind his own business, but it

went down well here with Labour supporters who are probably get they

are focusing on domestic policy, rather than fighting amongst

themselves. Stuart Broad has put England in a

good position in the third test against South Africa in

Johannesburg. Got him, Don! Captain Abie de Villiers was one of four

quick wickets for England's fast bowler. England were earlier bowled

out for 323, a lead of ten. You can see more on all of today's

stories on the BBC News Channel. The next news on is at 5:40pm. For now.

A very cold start to the weekend, one of the coldest weekend