JUBILANT Tivoli Gardens residents yesterday flocked to the streets of their community as news spread that their former community leader Christopher 'Dudus' Coke was safely in the custody of the police.

The throng of people -- among them the elderly and the very young -- sang pro-Coke songs and made expletive-filled, anti-Bruce Golding comments as they marched through sections of the community.

The gathering of mostly women and children was happy that Coke was unharmed and expressed their undying love and support for him.

They were convinced that the police had been given orders to kill Coke to prevent him from giving evidence in United States, where he is wanted on drug- and gun-running charges.

"We love wi Prezi same way. No matter what dem do we nah let down Prezi!" shouted one woman, while referring to Coke by one of his aliases.

"A him turn in himself. A him a di real big man," shouted another.

As the Observer news team drew near, the crowd got louder while chanting

in unison.

A young woman, who gave her name as Kimoy, had nothing but praises for Coke, whom she said took good care of the poor and needy within the community.

"Him school nuff a wi and give nuff a we place to live and tek care of the homeless," said Kimoy.

Coke's apprehension along the Mandela Highway in St Catherine yesterday afternoon, while reportedly heading to the US Embassy in Kingston with Reverend Al Miller, brought to an end the four-week hunt for him by members of the security forces.

Coke had been on the run since May 24, when members of the security forces

went into Tivoli Gardens, his former stronghold, to serve an arrest warrant on him and restore law and order in the West Kingston community.

Following his arrest yesterday, the police asked Miller to turn himself in for questioning as there was no agreement with the police for Coke to be taken to the US Embassy.

Coke is reportedly afraid of spending a day in a local cell as he is of the view that the may suffer a similar fate as his father Lester, who died in a mysterious fire in his cell at the General Penitentiary in the early 1990s while fighting his extradition to the United States.

With Coke in custody, the residents of Tivoli Gardens want the security forces to leave their community, while comparing their living condition to being imprisoned.

As the residents sang and danced in the streets yesterday, police officers in two motor vehicles pulled up and cautioned them to return to their home as the curfew hour (6:00 pm) was just minutes away.

"Even when you on you verandah dem come tell you fi go in a you house," a female resident complained.