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Mob violene erupts after Guyana's general elections

Xinhua, May 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

A group of people attacked a civilian house in Georgetown hours after polls in Guyana's general elections closed Monday night, according to reports reaching here on Tuesday.

The violence took place as rumors spread that supporters of the People's Progressive Party-Civic (PPPC) had set up illegal ballot boxes in the house.

An angry mob stoned at the property, set fire to a nearby stable and torched vehicles. Gunshots were also heard. Eight vehicles, including one owned by a candidate, were destroyed before riot police and armed soldiers put the situation under control.

Guyana's Kaleteur News Online said the house is the home of a pastor who is a determined supporter of the PPPC and had used his property as the party's activity center.

"This was a well orchestrated operation; this was nothing spontaneous," PPPC candidate Joseph Hamilton said, adding that the pastor's family had constantly received threats in the past weeks.

Both the ruling PPPC, led by incumbent President Donald Ramotar, and the opposition coalition, comprising A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), called on their supporters to remain calm following the violence.

The Elections Commission of Guyana said the final results of the parliamentary and presidential elections held on Monday are expected on Wednesday. Endi