Jamaica violence death toll rises

THE overall death toll from four days of violence in Jamaica’s capital rose to 49 yesterday after the country’s ombudsman said he had tallied the bodies of 44 civilians killed in a police assault on an alleged drug lord’s stronghold.

Heavily armed soldiers and police stormed the Tivoli Gardens slum on Monday searching for Christopher “Dudus” Coke, whose extradition is being sought by the United States on charges of cocaine trafficking and gun-running.

Security forces in Jamaica, a popular Caribbean vacation destination, say they have been fighting gunbattles in the streets with armed supporters of Coke, who has not yet been located.

US prosecutors have described Coke as the leader of the “Shower Posse,” which murdered hundreds of people by showering them with bullets during the cocaine wars of the 1980s.

Information Minister Daryl Vaz said the search continued for Coke.

Golding declared a state of emergency on Sunday in two Kingston parishes after suspected supporters of Coke attacked police stations with firebombs and gunfire.