Jamaica violence deaths rise to nearly 50-ombudsman

KINGSTON May 26 (Reuters) - The overall death toll from several days of violence in Jamaica's capital rose to 49 on Wednesday after the country's ombudsman said he had counted the bodies of 44 civilians killed in a police assualt on an alleged drug lord's stronghold.

The increased figure for civilians killed in the Tivoli Gardens slum was given by Ombusdman Herro Blair, who visited the neighborhood which soldiers and police stormed on Monday searching for Christopher "Dudus" Coke. The United States is seeking Coke's extradition on drugs and gun-running charges. (Reporting by Horace Helps; Editing by Pascal Fletcher)