Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj, confirmed the joint cordon and search operation in a section of south Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

The minister indicated that about 25 houses were searched in the targeted area, the ministry said in a statement.

"Ranks from the Police and the Army did not meet any violent resistance, but were abused and threatened", it said.

The ministry said that as a result of the joint operation, several persons were arrested and were assisting the Police in their investigations.

Gajraj indicated that the heightened Police and Army activities would continue and assured citizens that it is safe for them to use the East Coast public road through Buxton and other villages, along the East Coast Demerara, the ministry said.

He said the security forces would continue to mount similar joint operations as and when it is considered necessary to do so.

The traffic flow through Buxton on the main road was reported free yesterday after the fear that swept through the East Coast with the killing early Friday morning of two men by gunmen in the village,

Driver, Seeram Pomdass, 44, of Number 72 Village, Upper Corentyne, Berbice, and another man in the front seat with him were shot dead as they were traveling on the Buxton main road at about 06:15 hrs.

They and three other persons were on their way to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, reports said.

Reports said two of the other three other persons were passengers on a flight leaving the country and that they managed to catch the flight after the terror attack.

The death of the two men followed the attack by gunmen on the Vigilance Police Station Thursday evening, and counter action by the Police, lasting about 10 minutes.

A Police release stated that gunmen launched their attack at around 19:30 hrs from a house lot in the north - obliquely opposite the Police Station where they had secluded themselves. Ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) went to the aid of the Police and this caused the gunmen to retreat.

The GDF, in a release Friday, said the recent spate of shootings on the East Coast seemed to have taken a new twist, with gunmen now firing at their ranks.

After the latest attacks, the Army has heightened its presence in that neighbourhood.

In this regard, the GDF said it wished to reassure persons having to traverse the East Coast roadway passing through Buxton and Vigilance, as well as those living in and around Buxton, that it was doing its utmost to ensure their safety at this time.

On Thursday evening at around 20:00 hrs, two gunmen reportedly opened fire on an Army patrol in the vicinity of the Buxton market along the Railway Embankment.

Army officials said that as the ranks were patrolling the embankment road, they came upon logs and benches which were placed across the road to block it. As the soldiers disembarked and began to remove the obstacles, they were greeted by a hail of gunfire, forcing them to strike back.

In the exchange of gunfire, a man whose name was given as Clive McRae was shot in the shoulder.

The ranks took him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was reported to be resting in stable condition.

The other man whose name was given as Clive Duncan was mortally wounded, but since it was dark, this was not detected until Friday morning when his body was discovered in that vicinity, the officials said.

Minister Gajraj is appealing to members of the public to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, in any way possible, including the provision of useful information to the Police.