Reply #5: One dead in Honduras protests

[Judi Lynn]

One dead in Honduras protests
Freddy Cuevas
September 17, 2010
AP

A street vendor died on Thursday after inhaling tear gas fired by police against hundreds of supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya. The police used tear gas and a water cannon to break up the demonstration on Wednesday in the northern city of San Pedro Sula. Police officers chased some of the protesters into an opposition radio station, whose employees were forced to evacuate because of the tear gas.

Efrain Hernandez, 66, died in hospital on Thursday, police said in a statement. Hernandez, who sold lottery tickets in the area, had asthma. Three others were hurt, including one person who was struck in the face with a tear gas canister.

Police spokesman Hector Mejia said the demonstrators were intimidating a group of students participating in a government-organised march to mark the 189th anniversary of Honduras' independence from Spain.

The protesters - some of whom were students themselves - denied that, saying police attacked them without provocation.

"Dozens of students were savagely beaten," said Orfilia Mejia, a former opposition congresswoman and mother of Aristides Mejia, the vice president under Zelaya.

More:
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/one-dead-in-honduras-protests-20100917-15fku.html