Armed Uzbeck man takes hostages at Russian embassy in Costa Rica

An armed Uzbek man Friday took eight hostages at the Russian Embassy in Costa Rica, federal police said. Among those being held was the Russian ambassador, Valery Nikolayenko, federal police spokesman Francisco Ruiz said.

Police surrounded the building in San Jose, the capital. Ruiz told The Associated Press that an armed man between 17 and 20 years old from Uzbekistan entered the embassy with his mother and took five men and two other women hostage. The man's mother was being considered a hostage by police. (AP)