Jamaica police in house to house search for alleged drug figure

Telegraph:

Security forces came under heavy fire in the West Kingston area of Tivoli Gardens, after the island's government declared a state of emergency in the capital.

There were reports of bodies lying in the streets following the latest operation, while The Jamaican Observer reported that at least two soldiers had been shot.

Dwight Nelson, the security minister, said soldiers and police had broken down barricades around Tivoli Gardens and were in the middle of a house-to-house search for Mr Coke.

"The purpose of the operation is to execute the warrant for extradition and to detain [Mr Coke] so he can appear in court," he said.

At least two policemen and a civilian were killed in the violence on Monday, and a police station burnt down, as hooded gunmen from across the Caribbean island congregated on Kingston's crime-plagued downtown area, setting up roadblocks and firing on officers trying to remove them.

The wave of violence, which showed signs of spreading yesterday beyond its epicentre in west Kingston, followed the government's announcement that it would extradite Mr Coke.

...

While it handy for all of Jamaica's gang leaders to congregate n one place to confront the police, they are still targeting just the one guy for capture and extradition. But the Police and the army are having to treat the matter as a counterinsurgency operation in a hostile environment.

The Times has more on the fighting in Jamaica.