Renegade Bangladesh troops say holding officers hostage: TV

Mutinying Bangladeshi soldiers have taken officers hostage and will "destroy everything" if attacked by the army, a member of the rebellion told a Bangladeshi TV channel.

"We have taken all the officers hostage," an unnamed soldier described as a participant in the mutiny, which is unfolding in the capital, told ATN Bangla television.

He did not say how many hostages were being held, but asserted that "we will not free them unless the government declares a general amnesty for all of us, meets our demands and withdraws the army from outside the compound."

"We will destroy everything in and around the Pilkhana if the army fires at us," he warned, referring to the headquarters of the Bangladesh Rifles, the country's border security force.

First Published: Feb 25, 2009 14:37 IST