Caribbean summit opens overshadowed by violence

(4 Jul 2002) 1. Medium shot of honour guard entering hall where summit takes place 2. Wide shot of Caribbean leaders 3. Medium of Jean Bertrand Aristide, President of Haiti 4. Medium of leaders 5. Cut of audience 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Said Mussa, Prime Minister of Belize "The expansion of the community shows that we are struggling toward the inclusiveness and truly representative nature with which the subregional organisation should approach the challenges confronted by today's Caribbean. And we welcome Haiti as a full member. Real challenges demand real Caribbean cooperation and we must not let differences in languages, geography or any other real consideration exclude the participation of Caribbean brothers and sisters in our work together in issues of common concern." 7. Wide shot of leaders 8. Various of entertainers performing 9. Various of police operation after violent clashes 10. Burned out building and aftermath of violence STORYLINE: Police shot and killed two and wounded six in political violence that overshadowed the opening of a Caribbean summit in Guyana and triggered a duel of accusations between the government and opposition. The violence broke out six hours before the summit opened on Wednesday evening in the South American country. Police shot at opposition demonstrators who broke into the yard of the presidential office during a protest timed to coincide with the summit. President Bharrat Jagdeo wasn't in the building, and it was unclear if the protesters were armed. But the president's office issued a statement calling the protesters' act an attempt to assassinate the president and overthrow the government. The opposition denied the accusation and accused police of being "irresponsible" in assaulting protesters. Police said a group of opposition protesters broke away from a march involving thousands and forced open a metal gate to enter the presidential office compound. Members of the presidential police guard shot at the intruders with semiautomatic rifles, authorities said. One man and one woman died of their wounds, hospital officials said. Six other protesters were being treated for gunshot wounds. Sixteen demonstrators were arrested. After the shooting, protesters overturned and torched at least three cars and set ablaze two commercial buildings, gutting them. Pedestrians took off, leaving deserted streets in the capital of Georgetown. The violence drew attention away from the three-day Caribbean Community summit, during which leaders are to discuss topics ranging from free trade to crime, and approve Haiti as the group's 15th member. Community Secretary-General Edwin Carrington didn't refer to the violence in his opening address, instead urging Caribbean leaders toward economic integration. Internal political tensions in Guyana had not been on the agenda, though the community previously brokered a peace agreement between the government and opposition. Guyana's 800-thousand people are divided almost evenly between those of African and East Indian descent, and political allegiances follow ethnic lines. The opposition People's National Congress is supported mainly by black Guyanese, many of whom argue they face discrimination under the government of Jagdeo, who is of Indian descent. The owner of the destroyed buildings, Hardat Persaud, said protesters were seen setting fire to stores. On Wednesday night, soldiers and police patrolled the streets, which were nearly empty. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...