A Sri Lankan government minister has been held hostage by employees of a state television station after he and others stormed its offices and assaulted its news director.
Labor Minister Mervyn Silva barged into the Rupavahini television station Thursday complaining that a speech he gave a day before was not aired.
Journalists became enraged and managed to trap Silva and others in a small room, where they were held for several hours. He was not released until he issued a public apology. Police took him from the scene as journalists and others jeered and cheered.
Television footage of his departure showed the minister covered in red ink and staffers throwing stones at his car.
Silva has previously been accused of brawls with the media.