An armed man has entered the Russian embassy in the Costa Rican capital, San Jose, and is believed to be holding a number of hostages.
Heavily armed police have surrounded the embassy after the man seized nine hostages including Moscow's ambassador to Costa Rica, a police spokesman said.
The hostages include eight Russian officials, among them Ambassador Nikolaenko Valery.
The hostage taker is believed to be from Kyrgyzstan.
Local television has identified him as Roman Bordayan, a native of the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan who has been living in Costa Rica for a year.
