Six Dead in Dominican Republic Strike

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Demonstrators blocked roads with flaming tire barricades and marched through the streets to protest rolling blackouts and the rising costs of gas and food in the Dominican Republic.

At least six people were shot to death in clashes with police and soldiers, and 60 were injured, said Ramon Perez Figueroa with the Council of Unified Transportation Workers Union, which helped organize the strike.

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The strike comes amid growing discontent in the country, which in the past year has seen its currency, the peso, lose more than half its value against the U.S. dollar. Inflation is expected to top 40 percent by December.

Power outages have increased, lasting up to 20 hours a day in some areas. Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (news - web sites) to inject money into the electricity sector have stalled with the government owing private power companies about $350 million.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=589&ncid=721&e=8&u=/ap/20031112/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/dominican_strike


This is serious. Both the Dominican Republic and Haiti have come to a standstill with massive protests and riots against American backed policies...