An armed man has entered the Russian embassy in Costa Rica's capital, San Jose, and is believed to be holding several hostages, police say.
A hostage crisis at the Russian embassy in Costa Rica has ended with an armed man surrendering to police.
It is not clear whether Ambassador Valery Nikolayenko or any other diplomat is among those seized.
The man is believed to have held hostages for several hours at the embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica's capital, before giving himself up.
Officials later said four hostages had been released but a number of others are still thought to be held. Police are continuing to surround the embassy.
Russian diplomats were reportedly among the hostages. It is not clear whether any of the hostages were hurt.
The identity of the gunman - believed to be from the ex-USSR - is not known.
The identity of the gunman - believed to be from the former Soviet Union - was not immediately known.
"My understanding is that it is a hostage seizure," Costa Rican Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
However, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency quoted unnamed Russian diplomats in Costa Rica as saying the incident was a quarrel between two visitors, not a hostage crisis.
