Caracas weekend homicide rate at 25 ... Portuguesa registers 8 violent deaths

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic NewsPosted: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

According to a Police Detective Branch (CICPC) report, the weekend homicide toll in Venezuela reached 92 deaths ... broken down as 25 homicides in Caracas and 67 in the provinces. 

• In Caracas, Libertador municipality registered 22 homicides, compared to 3 in Sucre Municipality. 

Zulia State headed the provincial list with 13 murders, followed by Portuguesa and Carabobo at 8 each, Anzoategui 7, Miranda 6, Aragua and Vargas 4 each, Yaracuy 3, Cojedes, Sucre, Trujillo, Tachira, Lara and Falcon 2 each and Nueva Esparta, Apure, Monagas and Delta Amacuro 1 each. 

Among the highlighted homicides in Caracas are those of three cab drivers in different sectors of the city.

The CICPC report claims that 30 homicides were due to settling of scores between rival gangs and 23 the result of shootouts with the police.