Manila, Nov 08: Police recaptured the Manila airport control tower after an intense gun battle with armed men who seized the building in the Philippine capital tonight, officials and radio reports said. "It's over. Operations are back to normal," airport General Manager Edgar Manda said over Dzrh radio.

Police had swooped after "suspicious-looking characters were seen inside the tower", he said without elaborating.

The police had taken control of the tower, but there was no confirmation if there were any casualties. Radio stations reporting from the scene said emergency workers took three stretchers up the tower following a short but intense gun battle.

Radio reports said up to 15 armed men led by a former aviation regulator, Panfilo Villaruel, had seized the tower shortly after midnight. The tower is situated near a passenger terminal.

Bureau Report