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| Guatemalan farmers seize police | Guatemalan farmers seize police |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Some 1,500 angry farmers in Guatemala have taken about 30 police officers hostage and demanded that an arrested leader be released. | Some 1,500 angry farmers in Guatemala have taken about 30 police officers hostage and demanded that an arrested leader be released. |
| The officers were taken hostage on Thursday in the town of Livingston on the Caribbean coast, police said. | The officers were taken hostage on Thursday in the town of Livingston on the Caribbean coast, police said. |
| Police spokesman Faustino Sanchez told AP news agency: "They told us they are going to kill them one by one." | Police spokesman Faustino Sanchez told AP news agency: "They told us they are going to kill them one by one." |
| The farm leader, Ramiro Choc, was arrested on 14 February and accused of robbery and illegal detention. | The farm leader, Ramiro Choc, was arrested on 14 February and accused of robbery and illegal detention. |
| Jungle village | |
| The farmers disarmed the officers at the police station in Livingston and took them by boat to the remote jungle village of Maya Creek, police said. | |
| Mr Sanchez said: "We hope that after establishing negotiations we can reach some type of agreement or at least a more direct communication that will help us to get them freed." | |
| Among those being held were the police station head, a police district head and four other commanders, local media reported. | |
| Mr Choc has also been accused of inciting residents to take over land, including nature reserves. |