The President's Office said this action had become necessary since armed bandits continue to carry out actions of violence against peaceful citizens using the public highways and in neighbouring villages.

The Government also reiterated its appeal to law-abiding citizens to cooperate fully with the security forces and to assist in bringing normalcy to the areas.

According to the Office of the President, it is evident that these acts of banditry could lead to a confrontation along ethnic lines. It becomes more urgent therefore to deal condignly with criminal elements so as to avoid further disruption of normal life in the areas, the office said.

Government leaders are involved in discussions with several community leaders to assist in bringing calm to the affected parts of the East Coast. The Government would also be shortly announcing other initiatives to deal with this situation, the Office of the President added.

There have been heightened tensions in the Annandale/Buxton areas since last Friday when a band of more than 40 armed youths from neighbouring Buxton swarmed a section of Annandale in broad daylight. During the terror attack, the gang beat, robbed and molested dozens of residents.

The traumatised residents told this newspaper that between 16:30 and 17:00 hrs Friday, a band of youths between 14 and 18 years old and brandishing guns, choppers and knives, invaded the village and dispersed into groups of about four persons each.

They barged into homes, attacking and robbing occupants. Adults and children who were on the streets were also molested and robbed of as little as $200, residents said.

And following Friday's terror attack in Annandale, residents on Saturday chased two suspicious looking youths, believed to be armed, out of the area.

Police said another suspicious group of about 20 persons were yesterday seen assembling on the Annandale Public Road, close to the Market Road.

Police in a statement said that around 10:15 hrs yesterday, a Police mobile patrol was on the Annandale Public Road when the ranks observed about 20 persons assembled on the public road. The men, on seeing the Police patrol, ran away along the market road, Police said.

Police said they followed and several shots were fired at them forcing them to return fire.

Police said too that when the exchange of gunfire ended, one member of the group was found in a yard nursing gunshot wounds. He was in stable condition in hospital, under Police guard.

Police said investigations are in progress.

In a separate incident, Police said two men were in custody following a report of cattle rustling about 09:10 hrs yesterday at Bladen Hall, Railway Embankment Road, East Coast Demerara.

Police said they received a report that the two men were moving the cattle along Bladen Hall, Railway Embankment Road and responded. On arrival, one of the men fled while the other was arrested, Police said.

During this period, about 100 persons from Buxton/Friendship gathered and a shot was fired by a member of the crowd, which eventually dispersed, the Police release stated.

It said ranks of the Guyana Defence Force later brought the man who had escaped earlier and handed him over to the Police.

The cattle were driven back into the Bladen Hall area and Police said investigations are continuing.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Floyd McDonald, has announced that a number of measures have been put in place to deal with the immediate needs of the current crime situation. He said there is a short-term plan to deal with the situation.

On the 'Close Up' television programme hosted by GTV 11 General Manager, Mr. Martin Goolsarran, McDonald said the Force has identified "areas of threat" and there is an idea of where the focus should be placed.

Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj, who also appeared on the programme, said that the Government has put in place several measures to deal with the crime situation, both in the long and short terms, a statement from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

The minister acknowledged that there has been an increase in certain types of crime within the last six months. He noted that the Government has established various task forces to deal with the situation.

Singling out the task force addressing intelligence gathering, Gajraj noted that the work of this group has been somewhat handicapped. He made reference to the $10M reward offered for information on the five Georgetown Prison escapees, which has failed to produce results.

Carefully pointing out that there are law-abiding citizens and groups, the minister, however, said it is known that some communities and groups support the criminals.

According to Gajraj, the Government has spent more than $600M on kit and equipment for the Police Force and these will enhance the capabilities of the Force in both its long and short-term goals.

Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Michael Atherly, who was also on the programme, noted that the Army has adjusted its training to encompass internal security demands.

He said too that the Army was examining a plan for border defence, but this had changed and the focus is now concentrated on internal security.