Guatemala City/Madrid - A hostage drama ended peacefully in Guatemala overnight after the 29-year-old hostage-taker released the 43 people he had held for more than four hours, Spanish media reported Tuesday.

The man, identified as Luis Fernando Escobar Martinez, had threatened to blow up the office building in central Guatemala City if police tried to free the hostages by force.

Ecobar entered the building on Monday evening, shooting a security guard in the leg.

He later also fired at firefighters who tried to persuade him to surrender, apparently without causing them injuries.

Police said Escobar had military explosives powerful enough to destroy half of the building.

The man finally surrendered to police, releasing the hostages unharmed, according to Spanish National Radio.

Unofficial sources said Escobar had initially wanted to kill his former wife and her new partner, who worked in a call centre in the office building.

After taking the hostages, Escobar asked for an internet connection. (dpa)