Riots in Paraguay over fire verdict 
[ 6 Dec, 2006 2258hrs ISTREUTERS ]
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ASUNCION:
Rioters set cars alight, looted and blocked streets in Paraguay's capital on
Tuesday as anger flared over a court verdict relating to a fire in a supermarket
that killed 350 people.
Relatives of the victims and
survivors of the 2004 fire wanted a murder conviction for three men — an
owner of the supermarket, his son and a security guard — who were accused
of locking the doors when the blaze broke
out.
Angry relatives threw
chairs at the judges when they told the courtroom they had convicted the three
of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, and the violence spilled into
the streets of Asuncion's commercial
district.
TV pictures showed
burning cars lying in the streets as police armed with riot shields, water
cannons and tear gas fought to quell the unrest.
Crowds of people could be seen
throwing stones, and official reports said at least 31 people had been hurt and
30 arrests made. "In spite of the confusion, the police practically have control
of the situation,"interior minister Rogelio Benitez said.
During the unrest — the
worst seen in the South American country in seven years — hundreds of
rioters stormed into a supermarket belonging to the same chain where the fire
took place in August
2004.
Prosecutors said the
building was not equipped with proper fire escapes or alarms.
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