This self-styled cleric was the gunman behind the hostage siege in Sydney that left three people dead.<br/> <br />Police say Man Haron Monis was an Iranian refugee who called himself a "spiritual healer".<br/> <br />He entered a popular cafe in the city's financial district Monday morning and took about 17 people hostage at gunpoint.<br/> <br />Monis was known for sending hate mail to families of Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan, as protest against Canberra's role in the Afghan conflict.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN REFUGEE, MAN HARON MONIS, SAYING:<br/> <br />"This pen is my god. And these words are my bullets. I fight with these weapons against OPPRESSION, to promote peace....We should care about Australia's interest, not America's interest. We are Australians."<br/> <br />More than 16 hours into the standoff ... this... (nats bang bang)<br/> <br />Heavily armed police stormed the cafe.<br/> <br />Within minutes, medics were removing the wounded.<br/> <br />Several hostages had already fled or escaped.
