Thedeath toll from four days of violence in Jamaica's capital rose to 49 today 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 young supporters of Mr Coke, who has not yet been located.
Ombudsman Herro Blair said he had made a tally of those killed in Tivoli Gardens after being sent there yesterday by Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
"We know now for sure that there are 35 civilian bodies in the morgue, and when we were leaving last night there were another nine to be picked up," said Mr Blair, who is an evangelical bishop.
Police said the increased number of civilian dead brought the overall death toll from four days of clashes in parts of Kingston to 49, from a previous 31. At least three members of the security forces have been killed.
US prosecutors have described Mr 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 Mr Coke.
Mr Golding declared a state of emergency on Sunday in two Kingston parishes after suspected supporters of Mr Coke attacked police stations with firebombs and gunfire.
Reuters