Paramedics take a woman to an ambulance next to a bus hijacked by armed bandits after an attempted robbery in downtown Rio de Janeiro August 9, 2011. The armed bandits who tried to rob passengers on the city bus attempted to escape when the police, who were alerted by the driver, arrived. After a shootout with police, the robbers took 20 people hostage before they surrendered. At least four people were wounded in the incident, according to local media. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: CRIME LAW TRANSPORT HEALTH) 

Police walk near a bus hijacked by armed bandits after an attempted robbery in downtown Rio de Janeiro August 9, 2011. The armed bandits who tried to rob passengers on the city bus attempted to escape when the police, who were alerted by the driver, arrived. After a shootout with police, the robbers took 20 people hostage before they surrendered. At least four people were wounded in the incident, according to local media. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: TRANSPORT CRIME LAW) 

Police surround a bus hijacked by armed bandits after an attempted robbery in downtown Rio de Janeiro August 9, 2011. The armed bandits who tried to rob passengers on the city bus attempted to escape when the police, who were alerted by the driver, arrived. After a shootout with police, the robbers took 20 people hostage before they surrendered. At least four people were wounded in the incident, according to local media. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: TRANSPORT CRIME LAW) 

Police surround a bus hijacked by armed bandits after an attempted robbery in downtown Rio de Janeiro August 9, 2011. The armed bandits who tried to rob passengers on the city bus attempted to escape when the police, who were alerted by the driver, arrived. After a shootout with police, the robbers took 20 people hostage before they surrendered. At least four people were wounded in the incident, according to local media. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: TRANSPORT CRIME LAW) 

Police stand near a bus hijacked by armed bandits after an attempted robbery in downtown Rio de Janeiro August 9, 2011. The armed bandits who tried to rob passengers on the city bus attempted to escape when the police, who were alerted by the driver, arrived. After a shootout with police, the robbers took 20 people hostage before they surrendered. At least four people were wounded in the incident, according to local media. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: TRANSPORT CRIME LAW) 

Police surround a bus hijacked by armed bandits after an attempted robbery in Rio de Janeiro's downtown August 9, 2011. The armed bandits who tried to rob passengers on the city bus attempted to escape when the police, who were alerted by the driver, arrived. After a shootout with police, the robbers took 20 people hostage before they surrendered. At least four people were wounded in the incident, according to local media. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: TRANSPORT CRIME LAW) 

Relatives and friends of the remaining 46 hostages held by armed tribesmen pray for their safety and release at the chapel in San Martin, Prosperidas town in Agusan del sur province, southern Philippines December 12, 2009. Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed two more hostages on Saturday but continued to hold 46 others in a mountain forest. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW RELIGION) 

Relatives and friends of the remaining 46 hostages held by armed tribesmen pray for their safety and release at the chapel in San Martin, Prosperidas town in Agusan del sur province, southern Philippines December 12, 2009. Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed two more hostages on Saturday but continued to hold 46 others in a mountain forest. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW RELIGION) 

Relatives and friends of the remaining 46 hostages held by armed tribesmen pray for their safety and release at the chapel in San Martin, Prosperidas town in Agusan del sur province, southern Philippines December 12, 2009. Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed two more hostages on Saturday but continued to hold 46 others in a mountain forest. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW RELIGION) 

Villagers ride a motorcycle on a road in San Martin, Prosperidas town in Agusan del sur province, southern Philippines December 12, 2009 where armed men are holding 46 people captive. Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed two more hostages on Saturday but continued to hold 46 others in a mountain forest, negotiators said. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) 

Villagers ride a motorcycle past government security forces on a road in San Martin, Prosperidas town in Agusan del sur province, southern Philippines December 12, 2009 where armed men are holding 46 people captive. Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed two more hostages on Saturday but continued to hold 46 others in a mountain forest, negotiators said. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) 

A member of the Philippine National Police security forces jumps off a military truck upon arrival to secure San Martin, Prosperidas town in Agusan del sur province, southern Philippines December 12, 2009 where armed men are holding 46 people captive. Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed two more hostages on Saturday but continued to hold 46 others in a mountain forest. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) 

Villagers ride past government security forces on a road in San Martin, Prosperidas town in Agusan del sur province, southern Philippines December 12, 2009 where armed men are holding 46 people captive. Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed two more hostages on Saturday but continued to hold 46 others in a mountain forest, negotiators said. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) 

Marleyn Sanchez, 38, a farmer, speaks with the media after she was released by armed tribesmen in a remote hill community in San Martin, Agusan del sur, southern Philippines December 11, 2009. Armed Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed nine of 57 people they abducted from a school on a southern island on Friday, a government official said. With Sanchez is her son Kent. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES POLITICS CRIME LAW) 

Two hostages who were released by armed tribesmen talk to reporters in a remote hill community in San Martin, Agusan del sur, southern Philippines December 11, 2009. Armed Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed nine of 57 people they abducted from a school on a southern island on Friday, a government official said. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES POLITICS CRIME LAW) 

Marleyn Sanchez, 38, a farmer, has her blood pressure taken after she was released by armed tribesmen in a remote hill community in San Martin, Agusan del sur, southern Philippines December 11, 2009. Armed Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed nine of 57 people they abducted from a school on a southern island on Friday, a government official said. With Sanchez is her daughter, Charlene. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES POLITICS CRIME LAW) 

Marleyn Sanchez, 38, a farmer, refreshes herself after she was released by armed tribesmen in a remote hill in San Martin, Agusan del sur, southern Philippines December 11, 2009. Armed Filipino bandits demanding murder charges against them be dropped freed nine of 57 people they abducted from a school on a southern island on Friday, a government official said. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES POLITICS CRIME LAW IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

A Brazilian policeman patrols during an anti-narcotics raid as children look on in the Rocinha shantytown of Rio de Janeiro March 25, 2009. Acting on information that local drug bandits were planning to invade another nearby slum, over 200 police officers raided Rocinha, one of the largest slums in Latin America with around 200,000 residents, killing three suspected bandits and confiscating a cocaine laboratory along with one tonne of marijuana. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos (BRAZIL CONFLICT SOCIETY IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE) 

A Brazilian policeman arrests a suspected drug trafficker during an anti-narcotics raid in the Rocinha shantytown of Rio de Janeiro March 25, 2009. Acting on information that local drug bandits were planning to invade another nearby slum, over 200 police officers raided Rocinha, one of the largest slums in Latin America with around 200,000 residents, killing three suspected bandits and confiscating a cocaine laboratory along with one ton of marijuana. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos (BRAZIL CONFLICT SOCIETY IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE) 

Women walk through Moyale town after a day in the market, in northeastern Kenya, some 800km (500mles) from Nairobi July 10, 2008. Moyale perches at the Ethiopian border, far north of the capital Nairobi across mountains that descend to a forbidding desert of black volcanic stones, sand and armed bandits before rising again into the frontier town's green scrub hills. Few trucks reach Moyale, at the end of a tire-chewing 500 km (310 mile) rock road, and the produce it sends to the outside world is limited mostly to livestock. But its distance and the lack of a good road has only magnified the impact of world fuel and food price rises on the cost of goods brought from outside. Picture taken on July 10, 2008. To match Feature FOOD-PRICES/KENYA REUTERS/Antony Njuguna (KENYA) 

Women sell milk at an open air market in Moyale town in northeastern Kenya, some 800km (500mles) from Nairobi, July 10, 2008. Moyale perches at the Ethiopian border, far north of the capital Nairobi across mountains that descend to a forbidding desert of black volcanic stones, sand and armed bandits before rising again into the frontier town's green scrub hills. Few trucks reach Moyale, at the end of a tire-chewing 500 km (310 mile) rock road, and the produce it sends to the outside world is limited mostly to livestock. But its distance and the lack of a good road has only magnified the impact of world fuel and food price rises on the cost of goods brought from outside. Picture taken on July 10, 2008. To match Feature FOOD-PRICES/KENYA REUTERS/Antony Njuguna (KENYA) 

A young Darfuri girl carries her sleeping brother at Zam Zam camp in Sudan's North Darfur state, June 8, 2008. Just 10 km (6 miles) from El Fasher's colourful market stalls, thousands of displaced Darfuris struggle to survive in the Zam Zam camp, battling disease, bandits and growing hunger. These people used to get over 2,000 calories a day. Now they are getting by on survival rations of 1,400 calories as aid agencies cut rations because of attacks on food convoys. To match feature SUDAN-DARFUR REUTERS/Louis Charbonneau (SUDAN) 

A woman sits on her friend's bed as she recovers from an overnight attack and beating by armed bandits, at a health clinic run by the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Holland in Kerfi, a site for thousands of displaced Chadians some 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of the eastern town of Gos Beida, June 10, 2008. Reflecting the violence in Darfur that has swept in both directions across the Chad-Sudan border, there are 250,000 Sudanese refugees scattered in a dozen camps in eastern Chad and 180,000 internally displaced Chadians, U.N. officials say. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly (CHAD) 

A woman shows her nails decorated with marijuana leafs and images of narco patron saint Jesus Malverde in the northwestern city of Culiacan May 14, 2008. Violence has exploded in Mexico's drug smuggling heartland in a three-way battle between rival gangs and security forces, the biggest challenge yet to President Felipe Calderon's war against the cartels. About 300 people have died in drug murders so far this year in Sinaloa, an arid western state that serves as the home turf of one of Mexico's main drug gangs and where traffickers worship a bandit as their own patron saint. Picture taken May 14, 2008. REUTERS/Mica Rosenberg (MEXICO) 

Fighters of the Sudan Liberation Army Abdel-Wahed faction gather for a meeting with UN and African Union officials in the mountainous area of Nertiti on the edge of Jebel Marra in central Darfur April 17, 2008. Attacks by armed bandits on humanitarian convoys in Darfur are forcing the United Nations to sharply reduce monthly food rations to almost 3 million people in western Sudan, the World Food Programme said on Thursday. REUTERS/ALBANY ASSOCIATES/STUART PRICE (SUDAN). FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. 

United Nations Special Envoy for Darfur Jan Eliasson (R) speaks during a meeting with field commanders of the Sudan Liberation Army Abdel-Wahed faction in the mountainous area of Nertiti on the edge of Jebel Marra in central Darfur April 17, 2008. Attacks by armed bandits on humanitarian convoys in Darfur are forcing the United Nations to sharply reduce monthly food rations to almost 3 million people in western Sudan, the World Food Programme said on Thursday. REUTERS/ALBANY ASSOCIATES/STUART PRICE (SUDAN). FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. 

Fighters of the Sudan Liberation Army Abdel-Wahed faction stand guard in the mountainous area of Nertiti on the edge of Jebel Marra in central Darfur April 17, 2008. Attacks by armed bandits on humanitarian convoys in Darfur are forcing the United Nations to sharply reduce monthly food rations to almost 3 million people in western Sudan, the World Food Programme said on Thursday. REUTERS/ALBANY ASSOCIATES/STUART PRICE (SUDAN). FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. 

United Nations Special Envoy for Darfur Jan Eliasson listens during a meeting with field commanders of the Sudan Liberation Army Abdel-Wahed faction in the mountainous area of Nertiti on the edge of Jebel Marra in central Darfur April 17, 2008. Attacks by armed bandits on humanitarian convoys in Darfur are forcing the United Nations to sharply reduce monthly food rations to almost 3 million people in western Sudan, the World Food Programme said on Thursday. REUTERS/ALBANY ASSOCIATES/STUART PRICE (SUDAN). FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. 

A captured Somali bandit kneels surrounded by U.S. marines on the outskirts of Mogadishu February 6, 1993. U.S. forces called in a helicopter gunship after being attacked. At least five gunmen were captured. REUTERS/Dan Eldon (SOMALIA) 

A gambler plays in a machine of the new Casino Barriere in Toulouse October 12, 2007. REUTERS/Jean-Philippe Arles (FRANCE) 

Special Task Force (STF) soldier Brijesh Kumar Tiwari lies on his bed at a hospital in the northern Indian city of Allahabad July 23, 2007. A notorious gang of bandits killed six police commandos in an ambush northern India, police said on Monday, as authorities cracked down on armed outlaws in the lawless region. REUTERS/Jitendra Prakash (INDIA) 

A bullet hole is seen in the windshield of a vehicle in which a police officer was killed by armed bandits in Nairobi, January 19, 2007. Nairobi, the capital of east Africa's richest economy, has been known as "Nairobbery" for decades and carjackings, armed robberies and burglaries have long been a fact of life. Even now, Kenya has far fewer murders than South Africa, one of the most violent countries on earth. But a wave of cold-blooded killings, many in daylight, over the last three months have rung new alarm bells. TO ACCOMPANY FEATURE KENYA-CRIME REUTERS/Stringer (KENYA) 

- FILE PHOTO 04DEC04 -
Young Congolese Mai-Mai fighers rest in an empty classroom at the remote town of Mutongo in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in this December 4, 2004 file photo. [Some fight in flip-flops, others hope potions will turn their enemy's bullets into water and most take little time to aim, trusting in the theory: "He who makes most noise wins". But the government soldiers, militia fighters and bush bandits in eastern Congo all have one thing in common - an AK-47 assault rifle.] 

A Brazilian policeman checks a bullet hole in a wall of the Corcovado
train station in Rio de Janeiro, April 1, 2003. Bandits in crime-ridden
Rio de Janeiro have attacked one of the city's main tourists spots, the
train station on the way to the top of Corcovado mountain, with its
famed Christ the Savior statue. A group of up to eight armed men under
the cover of the night pumped assault rifle and pistol fire into the
ornate, old station building, a police booth and some buildings nearby,
Brazilian police said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

SM 

A Brazilian worker checks a bullet hole in a window at the Corcovado
train station in Rio de Janeiro, April 1, 2003. Bandits in crime-ridden
Rio de Janeiro have attacked one of the city's main tourists spots, the
train station on the way to the top of Corcovado mountain, with its
famed Christ the Savior statue. A group of up to eight armed men under
the cover of the night pumped assault rifle and pistol fire into the
ornate, old station building, a police booth and some buildings nearby,
Brazilian police said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

SM 

A Brazilian policeman patrols the Corcovado train station in Rio de
Janeiro, April 1, 2003. Bandits in crime-ridden Rio de Janeiro have
attacked one of the city's main tourists spots, the train station on
the way to the top of Corcovado mountain, with its famed Christ the
Savior statue. A group of up to eight armed men under the cover of the
night pumped assault rifle and pistol fire into the ornate, old station
building, a police booth and some buildings nearby, Brazilian police
said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

SM/GN 

Malaysian hostages Ken Fong Yin Ken (L), Kua Yu Loong (C) and Basilius Jim eat thier breakfast upon arrival at the residence of the governor in Jolo in the southern Philippines August 20, 2000. Three Malaysian hostages held by Moslem rebels on the southern Philippine island of Jolo for four months finally walked free on Sunday. They were handed over to the emissary on Friday following a deal with negotiators but had been unable to come down from the hills because of bad weather and the presence of armed bandits.

RR/DL 

Venezuela's First Lady Marisabel Chavez (C), surrounded by young handicapped children of the baseball team "One Arm Bandits," signs a softball in a local stadium in the capital, February 25. [Marisabel was watching her husband, President Hugo Chavez, fulfill his childhood dream of pitching to a Major League Baseball star, giving famed slugger Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs a few fastballs]. 

Venezuela's First Lady Marisabel Chavez (C), surrounded by young handicapped children of the baseball team "One Arm Bandits," signs a softball in a local stadium in the capital, February 25. Marisabel was watching her husband, President Hugo Chavez, fulfill his childhood dream of pitching to a Major League Baseball star, giving famed slugger Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs a few fastballs.

KW/HB 

A lone man plays a one-armed bandit September 16. Few people can now afford to gamble in Russia because of a financial crisis which has sent the rouble tumbling.

GD/ME 

Ex-Mayor of Cannes Michel Mouillot leaves a prison hospital in Nice, October 10, on a stretcher after 14 months of pre-trial custody for alleged corruption. Mouillot, who is accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for permits to install "one-arm bandit" slot machines in a hotel casino, had been on hunger strike to demand his release. 

Ex-Mayor of Cannes Michel Mouillot leaves a prison hospital in Nice, October 10, on a stretcher after 14 months of pre-trial custody for alleged corruption. Mouillot, who is accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for permits to install "one-arm bandit" slot machines in a hotel casino, had been on hunger strike to demand his release.

FRANCE MOUILLOT 

Ex-Mayor of Cannes Michel Mouillot leaves a prison hospital in Nice, October 10, on a stretcher after 14 months of pre-trial custody for alleged corruption. Mouillot, who is accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for permits to install "one-arm bandit" slot machines in a hotel casino, had been on hunger strike to demand his release.

FRANCE MOUILLOT 

An armed hospital guard looks around while observing the unloading of the humanitarian aid from the Red Cross truck in the mountain town of Librazhd (100km east from Tirana) March 29. A first Red Cross truck delivered aid through bandit-ridden southern Albania with no problems on the road.
??? OUT 

An armed hospital guard looks around while observing the unloading of the humanitarian aid from the Red Cross truck in the mountain town of Librazhd (100km east from Tirana) March 29. A first Red Cross truck delivered aid through bandit-ridden southern Albania with no problems on the road.

ALBANIA AID 

Williams Timmins (R), Britain's development director of the London club limited and owner of the Carlton casino in Cannes arrives at Grasse courthouse August 22 to be questionned jointly with Cannes Mayor Michel Mouillot. Mouillot was arrested and placed under investigation on alleged attempt to extort money from a British gambling firm to obtain municipal permit to install "one-arm bandit" slot machines at a casino. 

Cannes Mayor's wife Annie (L), his son Gil (R) and their lawyer Jean-Michel Balloud (C) discuss outside Grasse courthouse, August 22. Cannes Mayor Michel Mouillot was arrested and placed under investigation on alleged attempt to extort money from a British gambling firm to obtain municipal permit to install "one-arm bandit" slot machines at a casino. 

Cannes Mayor's wife Annie (L), his son Gil (R) arrive at Grasse courthouse, August 22. Cannes Mayor Michel Mouillot was arrested and placed under investigation on alleged attempt to extort money from a British gambling firm to obtain municipal permit to install "one-arm bandit" slot machines at a casino. 

A demonstrator carries a banner representing a one arm bandit reading "Machine Bayrou" (the French education minister) as supporters of France's state school system march in a column six kilometres (four miles) long to celebrate the defeat of government plans to increase financing of church schools, January 16th 

A captured Somali bandit kneels surrounded by US marines on the outskirts of Mogadishu February 6. US forces called in a helicopter gunship after being attacked. At least five gunmen were captured