OF THE
TIMES
"We were advised to have them in place for all residents. We acted in accordance with medical advice and resident wishes, not as advised by a directive to put in place for all by a clinical care group representative. We challenged this as unethical."
The electricity minister said some power stations had been reconnected and power provided to vital infrastructure, adding that by dawn electricity was gradually returning to several provinces.
The incident was the latest in a string of alleged attacks against the government's energy infrastructure.
Sporadic brawls continued for several hours, with protesters in body armor and gas masks - many armed with bats and shields - rushing at each other, throwing various projectiles and deploying pepper spray. Authorities claimed they watched the altercations closely, but each skirmish appeared to involve willing participants and the events were not enduring in time, so officers were not deployed to intervene.
Police were only responding to certain incidents or criminal activity, like reports of a "male subject" pointing a firearm at the crowd.
Comment: There are worse storms brewing in the US than these, the ramifications of which promise to be epic.