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Global

Jamaica violence deaths rise to nearly 50 - ombudsman


    KINGSTON (Reuters) - The overall death toll from several days of violence in Jamaica's capital rose to 49 on Wednesday after the country's ombudsman said he had counted the bodies of 44 civilians killed in a police assault on an alleged drug lord's stronghold.

    The increased figure for civilians killed in the Tivoli Gardens slum was given by Ombudsman Herro Blair, who visited the neighbourhood which soldiers and police stormed on Monday searching for Christopher "Dudus" Coke. The United States is seeking Coke's extradition on drugs and gun-running charges.

    (Reporting by Horace Helps; Editing by Pascal Fletcher)