NATION : 25 Reported Killed in Caracas Riots

CARACAS —  Police today estimated 25 people were killed in Caracas alone and more than 1,000 arrested in the worst street violence in Venezuela in 30 years.

The looting and rioting, triggered by bus fare increases, began Monday and spread to at least seven cities and towns. It continued into the early morning hours today in downtown Caracas, where sirens wailed as authorities put out fires and battled looters in streets filled with shattered glass.

Independent reports estimated damage nationwide to be in the millions of dollars. On some Caracas streets, virtually every store was looted. Army trucks full of troops patrolled some streets in Caracas this morning, while blocks away looters continued to remove goods from stores.