Bangladesh mutineers 'surrender'

Soldiers were sent to the barracks seized by mutinous border guards

Bangladeshi border guards who staged an armed mutiny have begun laying down their arms, cabinet minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak has told reporters.

The news, which is unconfirmed, comes hours after PM Sheikh Hasina offered the troops a general amnesty.

At least five people died and a number were wounded in the mutiny, which was said to be over pay, conditions, career advancement and alleged discrimination.

The rebels battled troops sent to quell the mutiny for several hours.

Sheikh Hasina and senior ministers met 14 of the renegade Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troops at her office after they were escorted there from their headquarters in the capital, Dhaka.

The prime minister offered the general amnesty and urged the paramilitaries to set free officers they had taken hostage.

The mutineers had seized the military barracks in the Pilkhana area of Dhaka on Wednesday morning.