TWO Jamaica Defence Force soldiers are nursing gunshot wounds after taking on gunmen during an offensive against the fortified West Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens, today.

The soldiers were rushed to a command post which the security forces have set up on the Kingston waterfront.

One of the soldiers was shot in the chest and was stabilised by a JDF medical team before he was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Since the security forces converged on the area early this afternoon there has been continuous gunfire and loud explosions.

The police are also engaged in a gun-battle with gunmen in the Woodford Park community in St Andrew.

Police say armed thugs aligned to Christopher Coke have amassed in Tivoli Gardens and have vowed to die fighting to defend him.

Last Monday, minutes after Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced that the extradition request for Coke would be signed, residents of Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town barricaded themselves in their community and have ignored pleas by the authorities to remove the barricades.