By Petra Cahill, World Blog editor

Heavily armed police and soldiers have been clashing with die-hard defenders of the drug boss Christopher “Dudus” Coke in Kingston, Jamaica, for three consecutive days.
Cook is wanted for extradition to the United States, where he faces a possible sentence of life in prison for drug trafficking and other charges.Andre Wright, an editor for the Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper, spoke with msnbc.com by telephone from Kingston about what sparked the current clashes, who Coke is and how the media there is reporting on the crisis. What is the background of the gang boss Christopher “Dudus” Coke? Who is he? Cook is alleged to be the major drug lord here. He is linked to the “Shower Posse,” which is responsible for mayhem in Jamaica, as well as in areas of the United States,

By Chris Hampson, NBC News Director of International News
LONDON – At the risk of being locked up and ceremonially beheaded in the Tower of London, here’s a confession. I’ve never much loved our royals.
Not the queen, of course.  It’s the rest of them I worry about.
Put it down to my upbringing, my politics, my lack of gratitude, what you will.