French troops are in the area as part of peacekeeping mission.
Reporting 10 gunmen, first reports were 2.
(CNN)LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
[5:22 a.m. ET] Two Malian citizens and a French citizen have died in the incident, a U.N. official said.
[5:15 a.m. ET] At least seven Chinese guests are among those held hostage, Chinese media reported
The gunmen arrived in a diplomatic vehicle
No group has claimed responsibility