Eight hostages died during a police attack after a gunman hijacked a bus full of Hong Kong tourists in the Philippine capital.
The 12-hour hostage drama aboard the hijacked bus in Manila ended when the gunman - an angry ex-policeman demanding his job back - shot eight of the tourists before police stormed the vehicle and a sniper killed him.
At least seven captives survived, four of whom were seen crawling out of the back door of the bus after police stormed it when the hostage-taker started shooting at the tourists inside.
The hostage-taker was killed with a sniper shot to the head after he wounded a police sharpshooter.
Police and ambulances were lined up next to the vehicle in the pouring rain after the stand-off ended.
Two of the surviving hostages were wounded and in a serious condition and the remaining five were under observation, Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang said as he expressed shock and anger at the police response.
Philippine president Benigno Aquino III said: "How can I be satisfied when there were people who died?"
But he said the situation deteriorated rapidly from the time the hostage-taker initially showed willingness to release his hostages.
Hong Kong issued a warning against travel to the Philippines and requested that Hong Kong tourists still in the country return. All forthcoming tour groups were also cancelled.
