Two hostages released from Myanmar

[koko@xxxxxxx]

Reply-To: "koko" <koko@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Two hostages released from Myanmar embassy in Bangkok

Thailand-Myanmar-release,lead
   Two hostages released from Myanmar embassy in Bangkok

   BANGKOK, Oct 1 (AFP) - Two hostages have been released by the armed group
which stormed the Myanmar embassy in downtown Bangkok on Friday, police and
witnesses said.
   The two were a Thai security guard and an elderly gardener, special
branch
police told AFP.
   Another police guard was released earlier in the day.
   Witnesses said the two men, looking shaken but unharmed, were quickly
escorted to a nearby building used by police as a temporary headquarters.
   Meanwhile, a local radio station reported that the hostage takers had
demanded a 20-seat helicopter to take them and the remaining hostages to the
Thai-Myanmar border.
   A group of 12 armed men claiming to by student activists stormed the
embassy at about midday (0500 GMT), taking 20 hostages, and demanding that
the
country's military rulers open talks with the opposition.
   de/nj