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Canadians may have been on Manila hostage bus, Ottawa says

24 August 2010 19:24 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Ottawa says Canadian citizens may have been on the bus that was involved in a deadly hostage standoff in the Philippines capital Manila, APA reports quoting theglobeandmail.com website.
The ordeal began when a dismissed policeman, armed with a M16 rifle and a pistol, seized a busload of 21 Hong Kong tourists and four locals to demand his reinstatement on the force.
It ended in bloodshed with police storming the bus and killing the gunman after he fired at the tourists, killing eight of them.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said today the Canadian mission in Manila is working closely with local authorities to try to get more information.
It says the mission stands ready to provide consular assistance to the families if requested.
The department also noted that Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon has issued a statement, expressing condolences.