Sydney gunman continues negotiating with police

A woman is seen in a window of the Lindt cafe, where hostages are being held, at Martin Place in central Sydney December 15, 2014. Australian police locked down the centre of the country's biggest city on Monday after an armed man walked into the downtown Sydney cafe, took hostages and forced them to display an Islamic flag, igniting fears of a jihadist attack. Reuters photo

A gunman, who Monday took over 30 people hostage inside a cafe in Sydney's central business district, continued to negotiate with police almost nine hours into the hostage drama.

"We want to resolve the situation peacefully," said New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione while addressing a press conference.

"We have evacuated some immediate surrounds to ensure that people do not get harmed," he added.

"We will be working in the night if the situation continues. We will be working for the arrangements tomorrow," NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn told reporters.

Five hostages, including two female workers, Monday escaped to safety from the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place where over 30 people are being held hostage by the gunman.

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