Residents of Tivoli Gardens in west Kingston yesterday painted a *lo**y picture of what was taking place as the security forces moved in on the community.

While talking to THE STAR via cellular phone, the residents literally cried for mercy as loud explosions, which they claimed were bombs, could be heard in the background.

"Yu nuh hear dat? Is a next bomb dat eno, dem a kill wi off, call Bruce fi wi nuh please. Please call Bruce, a him alone can mek dem stop," one resident said as other females around her screamed for murder.

She then added, "Please mek Bruce come dung yah, wi cyaa tek it no more."

The loud explosions helped to amplify the residents stories of what was taking place between the security forces and thugs from the community.

The residents were begging for the intervention of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, their member of parliament.

Even known gunmen admitted to THE STAR that the operation was much more than they bargained for.

One thug who claimed to have just gone to hide his gun and was taking a break said; "Mi naw lie, di bway dem a give it to wi ... A pure bomb dem a drop, dem a deal wid wi a way."

Another thug went on to claim that a decision was made to hide some of the weapons some time before the operation started and this led to the military getting into the community a bit easier.

"Dem a gwaan wicked, but pon a level a jus tru wi lock some a di ting dem ... Anyhow wi did decide fi keep out everything a woulda judgement, dem couldn't get in so easy," he told THE STAR. Some of the thugs also left the community.

In describing what he saw, another resident recalled, "Jah kno mi look out a Java (a section of the community) and a bout 50 man mi see lie dung ... Man face gone, some no have nuh foot, bone a push through dem ribs and all kinda tings."

He said that among the dead persons in the community were women and children. The residents claimed that rumours that Dudus was held, and a man said to be second-in-command of Tivoli was killed, were untrue.

They said that Dudus was not even in the community during the operation which began about midday. Up to press time last night, though an official number was not released, scores of residents were said to have been fatally wounded.

A release from the Constabulary Communication Network yesterday stated that during the operation seven members of the security forces were injured. Six of the seven were shot, one succumbed to his injuries. The other was injured in an accident.

The security forces had gone on the offensive as they tried to take control of the community, which was being overrun with lawlessness, as criminals there prepared for what they called a war by mounting blockades to entrances, setting traps and turning the place into a fortress.

The thugs and residents had said that they were prepared to die for their beloved leader, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke who is wanted in the United States to answer to gun and drug-running charges.