Armed pub siege ends peacefully

SYDNEY - An armed siege at a Sydney pub ended peacefully when police negotiators convinced the injured gunman to give himself up four hours after an officer was shot.

The officer was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital after being shot in his right shoulder when police responded to an apparent armed robbery attempt at the Lakes Hotel in Rosebery about 7.30am yesterday.

The situation quickly developed into a siege, with witnesses reporting up to seven shots being fired and the gunman holding four or five people hostage in the hotel.

All the hostages were believed to be staff at the Gardeners Rd pub, enjoying a drink after the early morning closing time.

Assistant Commissioner Catherine Burn said the injured gunman was taken to St Vincent's Hospital and would be interviewed by police.

No charges have yet been laid.

She said he was suffering from a gunshot wound, but couldn't give details of the seriousness of the injury.

Burn said four or five people had been held hostage, but police negotiators managed to secure the release of some of them earlier in the siege.

She could not confirm if the siege was a robbery gone wrong, saying officers were responding to reports of "possible persons on premises".

- AAP