BBC News - Philippine police end Manila bus hijack
Philippine police have stormed a hijacked bus in Manila, ending a day-long siege in which a group of Chinese tourists was taken hostage.
TV images showed at least four hostages leaving the bus, but bodies were also removed from the vehicle.
A former policeman armed with an M-16 had seized the bus early on Monday.
Officials said the gunman was killed before the siege ended, but there has not yet been any confirmation of how many other people died.
The police made their final move on the bus after a body was seen hanging from the front door of the vehicle, and hostages began to leave the vehicle by the back door.
TV stations in the Philippines carried live footage of the hostage drama.
Before the end of the siege, the gunman, identified as Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, 55, was reported to have told police that there were casualties on board - but this could not be verified.
He is reported to have been sacked over robbery and drugs claims and he was demanding to be reinstated to the force.
During early negotiations, nine people were freed from the bus, and the driver apparently escaped.
But as the siege went on, the gunman made threats to kill some of the 15 remaining hostages if his demands were not met.
Several volleys of shots were heard coming from the bus as the siege drew to a close.
Earlier, Chief Superintendent Erwin Margarejo, spokesman of the Manila police district, said the use of force would be a "last resort".
Twenty-two of those on board were said to be tourists from Hong Kong, with three Filipinos - a driver, a guide and a photographer.
The bus was stationary at Luneta Park in central Manila when the gunman appeared. The vehicle is now stopped across the eight-lane road inside the park, and the road has been cordoned off.
Philippine police have stormed a hijacked bus in Manila, ending a day-long siege in which a group of Chinese tourists was taken hostage.
TV images showed at least four hostages leaving the bus, but bodies were also removed from the vehicle.
A former policeman armed with an M-16 had seized the bus early on Monday.
Officials said the gunman was killed before the siege ended, but there has not yet been any confirmation of how many other people died.
The police made their final move on the bus after a body was seen hanging from the front door of the vehicle, and hostages began to leave the vehicle by the back door.
TV stations in the Philippines carried live footage of the hostage drama.
Before the end of the siege, the gunman, identified as Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, 55, was reported to have told police that there were casualties on board - but this could not be verified.
He is reported to have been sacked over robbery and drugs claims and he was demanding to be reinstated to the force.
During early negotiations, nine people were freed from the bus, and the driver apparently escaped.
But as the siege went on, the gunman made threats to kill some of the 15 remaining hostages if his demands were not met.
Several volleys of shots were heard coming from the bus as the siege drew to a close.
Earlier, Chief Superintendent Erwin Margarejo, spokesman of the Manila police district, said the use of force would be a "last resort".
Twenty-two of those on board were said to be tourists from Hong Kong, with three Filipinos - a driver, a guide and a photographer.
The bus was stationary at Luneta Park in central Manila when the gunman appeared. The vehicle is now stopped across the eight-lane road inside the park, and the road has been cordoned off.
