Rio de Janeiro:
Gunmen engaged in a shootout with police, took 30 people hostage at a luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
As the fire-fight continued a passer-by was killed as she was getting out of a taxi.
But surrounded and pinned down by police, they freed their captives within hours and surrendered to police.
Witnesses said the up-market, beachside neighbourhood around the Intercontinental Hotel was transformed into a virtual war zone as the 10 suspects - armed with high-calibre rifles, grenades and pistols - exchanged fire with police.
Security in Rio de Janeiro is of great concern as the city prepares to host the final of the 2014 football World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
Officials have vowed to fight violence, and in the past year started an aggressive programme of invading slums to drive out the heavily armed drug gangs and establish a police presence.
The programme has managed to clear drug gangs from about 10 slums located in Rio's rich southern zone.
As the fire-fight continued a passer-by was killed as she was getting out of a taxi.
But surrounded and pinned down by police, they freed their captives within hours and surrendered to police.
Witnesses said the up-market, beachside neighbourhood around the Intercontinental Hotel was transformed into a virtual war zone as the 10 suspects - armed with high-calibre rifles, grenades and pistols - exchanged fire with police.
Security in Rio de Janeiro is of great concern as the city prepares to host the final of the 2014 football World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
Officials have vowed to fight violence, and in the past year started an aggressive programme of invading slums to drive out the heavily armed drug gangs and establish a police presence.
The programme has managed to clear drug gangs from about 10 slums located in Rio's rich southern zone.
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