Barricade brothers under arrest

The brothers have been taken away for questioning

Two brothers who were surrounded by armed police after barricading themselves inside a house in Belfast have given themselves up.

Earlier, police said a number of pellets had been fired at officers and their vehicles from the house in Powerscourt Place on the Ormeau Road.

It is understood the men lived in the house at one time, but have not been there for a number of weeks.

A suspected firearm has been removed from the property for examination.

The district commander for south and east Belfast, Chief Superintendent Brian Maguire, thanked local residents for their cooperation.

"We regret any inconvenience caused, however, our priority was the safety of the community," he said.

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An uncle of the brothers said police had prevented him from speaking to the pair.

"They (the brothers) said to me they were going up to the house to get clothes so they must have went up last night," he said.

"Somebody must have asked them if they owned the house and they said no, so the police came out.

"I asked the police if I could speak to them and they said no. The local priest asked and they said no to him as well."

Speaking from the scene earlier on Thursday, BBC reporter Andy Martin said officers had automatic guns trained on the house.

The area, which was cordoned off for a time, has been re-opened.

The house is owned by the Housing Executive which said the legal tenant of the property had transferred to another Housing Executive property with effect from 27 April 2009.