Embassy gunman dies

A GUNMAN who took hostages at the Estonian defence ministry killed himself, and the two hostages escaped unharmed as police intervened yesterday, a police spokesman said.

Spokesman Mihkel Loide told the local Delfi news agency that the gunman shot himself while hostages escaped unscathed during the police operation.

One official was quoted as saying the gunman was a former member of the Estonian defence forces but made no reference to possible motives.