3 Dead as squatters clash with police in Argentina

Three people were killed and some 30 injured after squatters clashed with police in the northern Argentinean province of Jujuy, local radio Continental said on Friday. The squatters were occupying lands belonging to the local Ledesma sugar plant. "Doctors reported the deaths of a police officer and two young people, who were hospitalized after the clashes... Thirty more people were hospitalized with injuries, including 15 policemen," the radio station quoted Roberto Baisel, the head of a local hospital, as saying. A week ago over 500 families occupied a territory of 12 hectares that belong to the Ledesma sugar plant. They demanded that the land be transferred to their property and the government should finance the construction of houses for them. But a court ruled that the occupation of the land was illegal and ordered the police to retake the occupied territory. According to eyewitnesses, the occupants hurled Molotov cocktails, stones and opened gunfire on policemen as they approached them. Police forces used batons, tear gas and rubber bullets in response.