Colombia’s cities wake up after violence-stained night
Colombia’s cities wake up after violence-stained night
posted by Adriaan Alsema
Aug 30, 2013
Colombia’s two largest cities, the capital Bogota and Medellin, woke up Friday after a tumultuous night that saw ongoing clashes between authorities and protesters whose anti-government demonstration descended into chaos Thursday afternoon.
In both cities, police was forced to attend roadblocks protesters had been putting up on important entrance and exit points. However, in spite of efforts, Bogota remained disconnected from the city of Soacha, bordering the capital to the southwest,
In the capital, Mayor Gustavo Petro was forced to decree an immediate curfew and ban alcohol sales in four of the city’s 20 districts after admitting that “extremism took over the mobilization” and looting and rioting continued after Thursday’s initially peaceful protests descended into chaos.
The mayor of Soacha had already decreed a curfew earlier on Thursday afternoon when chaos erupted during the protests.
Bogota authorities said that violence in the capital district cost the lives of two people who were reportedly killed in brawl between rioters and police that also left 200 injured — 26 of whom were in a serious condition – and 40 arrested since the afternoon. In Soacha a third person was killed.
More:
http://colombiareports.co/colombias-cities-wake-violence-stained-night/