In Brazil, a gunman holding a busload of passengers hostage in Rio de Janeiro today was shot dead by police,  ending the hours-long hijacking.

At least 16 people were trapped on the bus after it was commandeered by the gunman on a heavily transited bridge connecting Rio with the neighbouring city of Niteroi.

The gunman reportedly boarded the Rio-bound bus and began threatening passengers.

Several lanes of traffic on the busy Rio-Niteroi bridge spanning Guanabara Bay were paralysed during the hostage situation.