Brazilian hostage-taker surrenders

Police in Brazil have freed three children held hostage by their father, who is suspected of killing five other relatives during a marital dispute.

The man, who retired as an air traffic controller following mental problems, had threatened to blow up himself and his children with gas canisters at his home in Arcos, north of Sao Paulo.

After several hours, he surrendered to police.

The rampage began early on Monday, when the man allegedly shot dead five people including his mother and his former wife.

A sixth person was seriously wounded.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service