Two die in Dominican Republic ruling party convention

Santo Domingo.- Sunday´sconvention to choose candidates for deputies, mayors and heads of municipaldistricts by Dominican Republic’s ruling party (PLD) turned violent as two rank-and-file were killed: ErasmoAntonio Medina Espinal, in Santiago and Yeral Perez, in, Barahona.

Adding to the violencewere the suspension of the convention in the northwest towns of Dajabon andLoma de Cabrera, a truck driver shot and hurt in Villa Mella, where he was haulingboxes with convention materials; at least 8 injured in La Ceiba, eastern LaAltagracia province; the theft of ballot boxes in Rancho Arriba, Ocoa and SanPedro de Macoris; and ballot boxes set afire and clashes between rival groupsacross the country.

President Medina,former president regret violence

Both president DaniloMedina and former president and PLD president Leonel Fernandez said they regretthe incident in the convention, which sought to choose 15 deputies, 82 mayorsand 122 town managers.