5 KILLED IN RENEWED FIGHTING IN BAWKU (D/G Tuesday, March 3 2009. PAGE 3)

FIVE persons were killed and two others, including a police constable who was identified as Peter Ayivie, seriously wounded in renewed fighting in some parts of the Bawku municipality of the Upper East Region.
The dead, one of whom was identified only as Azay, with the others yet to be known, have been deposited at the mortuary. The name of the other person who was seriously injured has been given as Rahim Alhassan, who is reported to be on admission at a private medical facility in Bawku and said to be in critical condition.
The cause of the latest incident was not known at the time of filing this report but both the police and the military have intensified their patrols in the area.
An uneasy calm reigned over the area and every activity was at a standstill, with people staying indoors.
Information gathered by the Daily Graphic had it that Azay, who is about 30, was killed near the offices of the Ghana National Fire Service in Bawku about 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2009.
According to a source close to the police, Azay was allegedly shot in the stomach at close range, resulting in his intestines gushing out.
About 10 a.m. yesterday, fighting erupted again and it was alleged that Alhassan was severely wounded with a machete around the Total Filling Station, right in the centre of town, resulting in renewed fighting in the town.
The source said in the process, another person, whose identity is yet to be known, was killed and the body found around the new lorry park.
Meanwhile, the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, has said the police and the military are in control of the situation.
He indicated that some arrests had been made, adding that investigations were underway to arrest all those connected to the latest clashes.
In a related development, the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, has convened an emergency Regional Security Council meeting to address the latest crisis in Bawku.
Mr Woyongo, who assumed duty only yesterday, had, on Saturday, immediately after arriving in the region to assume duty, announced that his primary concern was to restore lasting peace to Bawku.