Manila hostage crisis ends; hostage taker shot dead

The nearly day long hostage crisis in Manila has ended with the hostage taker's death in a fire fight with the Philippine commandos. There has been no word on casualties of the tourists yet, although some were seen being evacuated from the besieged bus. Earlier, Philippine police in helmets and flak jackets stormed the bus after firing shots at the tires in a bid to end a daylong hostage standoff involving 15 tourists from Hong Kong. The hostage taker also fired from inside the bus.

A 12-hour hostage stand-off on a hijacked Philippine bus ended in bloodshed Monday, with officials saying at least seven Chinese tourists were dead along with the disgruntled ex-policeman who seized their vehicle in a bid to get his job back.

At least six captives survived, four of whom were seen crawling out of the back door of the bus after Philippine police stormed it on Monday evening when the hostage-taker started shooting at the 15 Chinese tourists inside, said police Senior Superintendent Nelson Yabut.

Earlier, Philippine police in helmets and flak jackets stormed the bus after firing shots at the tires in a bid to end the hostage standoff.
The hostage-taker was killed with a sniper shot to the head after he wounded a police sharpshooter.
Police said they stormed the bus after they saw Mendoza open fire on hostages.

Police and ambulances were lined up next to the vehicle in the pouring rain after the standoff ended.
Local hospitals reported seven bodies of hostages were brought in. One other hostage was hospitalized in critical condition, and five others were unharmed.
The crisis began when the dismissed policeman, Rolando Mendoza, 55, armed with a M16 rifle seized the busload of Hong Kong tourists to demand his reinstatement in the force.

The gunman released nine hostages during the afternoon leaving 15 inside. Despite hopes that negotiations might bring the stand-off to a peaceful conclusion, tensions escalated as night closed in.