Declaring that the country is at war with criminal gangs, the Government yesterday announced the introduction of soldiers, including the National Reserve, into its crime-fighting strategy, and promised that the state's response to the brutality of the gangs would be lethal.

Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, the leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, emerged from the Hall of Justice a free man yesterday and he will remain out on bail until the State decides when it will take a second shot at him.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - A suspected armed robber linked to a string of hold-ups in Toronto last year has been arrested for murder in Jamaica.

An enraged worker at a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlet who is reported to have used a pot of oil to scald a customer has greater consequences to worry about than losing his job. He could be facing jail time if he is found guilty when he faces the court today.

Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago, Limited (TSTT) is upgrading and expanding its wireless infrastructure with advanced third generation (3G) wireless solutions from Nortel (NYSE:NT) (TSX:NT). The project is expected to significantly expand coverage and improve quality of wireless voice and data services.

The state yesterday admitted that members of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) used illegally obtained warrants to search and seize documents from the home and offices of CL Financial Executive Chairman Lawrence Duprey and has agreed to compensate the businessman for the breaches of his fundamental rights.

Illegal drug trade in Jamaica has suffered a major blow due to an aggressive campaign against major players by local and overseas law enforcement efforts, says a senior police officer. Superintendent Carlton Wilson of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's narcotics division credits last year's apprehension of key drug traffickers for this decline.

Jamaat al-Muslimeen leader Imam Yasin Abu Bakr adopted a cavalier attitude yesterday as he took the witness stand in his own defence, denying any involvement in a plot to kill two former members of his mosque.

Police yesterday captured two gunmen after they abducted a Kingston woman at the Sovereign Shopping Centre in Liguanea, forced her into her Mitsubishi Pajero and led the cops on a high-speed chase through early afternoon traffic that eventually ended in a three-vehicle collision at one of the capital's busiest intersections.

Kingfish operatives were last night questioning a suspected financier of the notorious Gideon Warriors gang, who was nabbed yesterday attempting to leave the island.