Philippine Police Kill Hostage Taker

Police storm a bus where a former policeman was holding a group of Hong Kong tourists, killing him but failing to save all of the hostages.

An 11-hour standoff between police and a hostage taker comes to a bloody end.

Philippine police shot and killed a sacked former policeman who was holding 15 Hong Kong tourists on a bus in downtown Manila.

Armed with an M-16 assualt rifle, 55-year-old former police captain Rolando Mendoza stopped the bus with 25 people on board.

The Red Cross said at least five hostages left the bus alive after Mendoza died, but more bodies were removed.

For much of the day Mendoza could be seen negotiating with police.

He had released nine hostages, six from Hong Kong and three from the Philippines.

Mendoza's brother Gregorio said Rolando was upset by his dismissal from the police for extortion, which cut off his retirement benefits.

Gregorio was taken into custody by police and found with a gun as he approached the bus.

At nighttime police commandos broke the windows of the bus after Mendoza fired shots.

By midnight they had raided the bus and killed him.