Italy bank seige ends

Italian police have stormed a bank in Milan and captured a gunman, ending a siege which had lasted more than twenty-four hours.

State television said the gunman and two policemen were injured as shots were fired during the assault.

The gunman, a Sicilian, had seized four hostages yesterday after being refused a loan.

Police said they had given him more than two-million dollars in ransom payment but refused his request for a getaway helicopter.

The four hostages were gradually released, as officials negotiated surrender terms with the gunman.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service