Fire leaves 68 dead in Venezuela police station cellsMarch 29, 2018 - 10:46 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Rioting and a fire at a police station in the Venezuelan city of Valencia, in Carabobo State, have left 68 people dead, government officials say, according to the BBC. Chief State Prosecutor Tarek Saab said an investigation into what had happened would begin immediately. The blaze reportedly started after prisoners set fire to mattresses in an attempt to break out on Wednesday, March 28. Police used tear gas to disperse relatives who surrounded the station after news of the fire broke. State official Jesus Santander confirmed a police officer had been shot in the aftermath of the blaze, which has been brought under control. He said the state of Carabobo was in mourning after the incident. Families, desperate for news, gathered outside the facility in Valencia, only to be repelled by police who fired tear gas on the crowd. Inside, scores of inmates had been killed, many from smoke inhalation. At this stage, the official version suggests the fire was started deliberately, as a riot took hold. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |