Following last night's revelation that the Government will sign the extradition warrant for Tivoli Gardens strong man Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, his lawyer is pleading with the security forces not to use it as an excuse to slaughter innocent residents of west Kingston.

Attorney-at-law Tom Tavares Finson, indicating there could be problems over the extradition, urged people not to use the matter to create mayhem and appealed to the security forces not to hold west Kingston under siege.

"Don't use it as an excuse to attack and murder innocent people in west Kingston, don't do it, it will not put us anywhere," Tavares-Finson said. "JLP supporters from Hanover to Port Antonio stand with the innocent and law-abiding citizens of west Kingston."

He further implored the security forces to leave the innocent citizens of Tivoli Gardens alone.

On several occasions there have been gunbattles between men from the area and the security forces. In July 2001, more than 25 persons were killed and about 40 injured after members of the police force invaded Tivoli Gardens. There was also a similar stand-off in 1997.

Residents claimed after both incidents, that a number of innocent people were killed in these operations.

Tavares-Finson, who is also a government senator, told THE STAR he has been instructed to go to court to challenge the signing of the extradition warrant.

the document

The attorney questioned what had changed in the matter given that for an extended period, the Justice Minister, Dorothy Light-bourne, was not convinced that the United States had provided sufficient information on which she could sign the document. He said this would form a major portion of his challenge.

The government had repeatedly argued that it could not sign the extradition request because the US authorities were relying on recorded conversations they had received in breach of Jamaican laws.