Brazilian hostage-taker shot dead

Police in Brazil have killed a gunman who took a number of bus passengers hostage for several hours in Rio de Janeiro.

One of the passengers was also killed, but it was unclear whether she died from shots from the hostage-taker or the police.

The man boarded the bus apparently while police were in pursuit of him for a robbery.

They gave chase and forced the vehicle to stop in a residential area, where he threatened to kill the passengers unless he was given grenades and more weapons.

When he eventually got off the bus to negotiate, police marksmen shot him several times.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service