Injuries, arrests as opposition party’s turmoil becomes gunfire (UPDATE)

Santo Domingo. – Three mid level leaders of the opposition PRD party were injured Friday afternoon amid a hail of gunfire between members of the faction headed by ex president Hipólito Mejía and the organization’s president Miguel Vargas, near the Electoral Tribunal, which was holding the first hearing into the conflict unleashed from the loss in the May 20 election.

Mejia’s supporters say the security guards of the deputies Victor Gomez Casanova and Rafael -Figuito- Vasquez started the shooting, while reports point to the ex president’s backers who hurled stones at vehicles of Vargas’s followers, who responded with gunfire.

The injured were identified as Jean Carlos Ferrera, Manuel Guzman and Vinicio Garcia, and the police arrested several rank and file.

UPDATE

Electoral court suspends faction’s planned meeting

The Superior Electoral Tribunal, TSE, ruled to suspend the meeting planned for Sunday of the PRD’s National Executive Committee (CEN), until the court hears and decides on the merits of the restraining order requested by Vargas’ faction.