DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: UNIDENTIFIED GUNMAN FIRES FIVE SHOTS DURING HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SESSION

Record ID: 377096

  • Title: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: UNIDENTIFIED GUNMAN FIRES FIVE SHOTS DURING HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SESSION
  • Date: 18th August 2003
  • Summary: (W2) SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (AUGUST 16, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV LEGISLATORS SHOUTING IN THE DARK AFTER THE LIGHTS WENT OUT; AUDIO GUNSHOT HEARD LEGISLATOR IN BACKGROUND REACTING; MV LEGISLATORS YELLING; AUDIO SECOND GUNSHOT HEARD LEGISLATOR JUMPING OVER TABLE; SCU FEMALE LEGISLATOR (3 SHOTS) 0.46 2. SLV LEGISLATORS SHOUTING IN CONFUSION;
  • Embargoed: 2nd September 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
  • Country: Dominican Republic
  • Reuters ID: LVA88I081YNTTYXVZ5721Z0N7BTP
  • Story Text: Panic broke out during a session in the Dominican
    Republic's House of Representatives after an unidentified
    gunman fired five shots on the floor.

    Chaos broke out in the House of Representatives in
    the Dominican Republic on Saturday (August 16, 2003), after
    several shots were fired in the middle of a legislative
    session.

    No injuries were reported, but witnesses said they he
    ard at least five gunshots shortly after the electricity
    went out, plunging the floor into darkness.

    Legislators dove under tables and tried to leave the room
    in a panic.

    It was not immediately clear who fired the shots.

    Police are investigating.

    The incident occurred during an open session for the
    legislators to elect a new Speaker.

    The Dominican Constitution requires the election to
    take place on August 16 each year.

    Prior to the session, candidate Alfredo Pacheco of the
    governing Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) said he had
    received threatening phone calls that warned him he would
    receive "a shot to the head," if he continued his campaign.

    Following the incident, the election proceeded on
    schedule and Pacheco emerged the winner, defeating
    four-year incumbent Rafaela Alburquerque of the opposition
    Reformist Social Christian Party.



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