18 killed in Burkina Faso restaurant attack

Eighteen people have been killed in a restaurant attack in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou, the government said.

"The attack claimed 17 victims, their nationalities are yet to be confirmed, and eight injured," according to a government statement, a copy of which was sent to AFP.

Gunmen attacked the Aziz Istanbul restaurant even assecurity forces launched a counter-assault to try to end the attack, news agency Reuters reported.

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"We evacuated 11 people but one of them, a Turk, died on arriving at thehospital," a doctor told AFP.

Another doctor said a dozen injured people were taken to the hospital.

"Three of them have died. The rest of the wounded are in a critical condition," the surgeon told AFP.

"A terrorist attack at Istanbul restaurant on Ouagadougou's Kwame Nkrumah Avenue claimed 17 victims, their nationalities are yet to be confirmed, and eight people are injured," a government statement said.

Communication minister Remis Dandjinou said it was not known how many assailants were involved.

"They are confined to one part of the building they attacked. Security and elite forces are conducting an operation," he said on television.

An armoured vehicle opens fire in the direction of a restaurant following an attack by gunmen on the restaurant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. (Reuters)

Restaurant customers run into the street following an attack by gunmen on a restaurant in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. (AFP)