Laserstorm 08

48hrs - 12 noon Saturday, 7th June to 12 noon Monday, 9th June, 2008

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Latest News

Stormia - UN police faced off today with about 5,000 anti-government demonstrators trying to cross a bridge in the capital.

In a brief skirmish, protesters armed with guns also lobbed stones, empty glass bottles and firecrackers. 17 UN police were injured, with 1 later dying from his wounds in hospital, on the fifth day of unrest since the previous ruling socialist government was beaten decisively by Stormia 's Democratic Process Party in elections on Sunday.

The show of disgruntlement came despite appeals by Stormia 's new Prime Minister, for all parties to play a constructive role in the future government.

He expressed hope that the daily violence that has broken out in major cities since Sunday's election results will ease as UN peacekeepers step up patrols and deploy a 1,800-member police and justice mission.

The Prime Minister's appeal for calm came as Stormia 's pro-western politicians warned the violence could be a prelude for a crackdown against moderates.

The defence minister of the EU-friendly Democratic Party, described the violence that followed the result of the election at the weekend as "one of Stormia 's saddest days".

He said rioters were encouraged by the support of some socialist politicians for attacks against western embassies and commercial interests in the capital earlier in the week.

But police were nowhere to be seen when scores of rioters — many wearing balaclavas — attacked the US embassy for the second time in a week. 6 charred bodies, were later found in the embassy.

Stormia has had UN peacekeepers involved since 2004 when the UN moved to investigate claims of genocide by the then ruling socialist government. Since then, over 40 countries have contributed soldiers and police to the mission with 71 deaths. With the recent change in government, strategists are forecasting increased armed violence unless the UN can act quickly.

More than a dozen countries have already recognised Stormia 's new government, including the US, Britain, France, Australia and Germany.

With more UN troops scheduled to arrive in June this year, Stormia 's public are realising their fears of civil war, as was threatened by socialist leaders prior to the election, will become real at a time when the countries needs to recognise it's place in a new political and economic world.