Protesters that day invaded the Office of the President and later burnt, looted and beat innocent persons as they unleashed terror in the city.

Mr. Gajraj was one of four Government Ministers who at a special sitting of Parliament Wednesday strongly condemned the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) for unleashing acts of terrorism with the aim of overthrowing the elected People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

The Home Affairs Minister said many senior members of the PNC/R had told him they were not in agreement with the violence organised by the PNC/R and wanted to "distance themselves" from "these terrorist acts."

But he declared, "This is not enough, they must denounce these acts."

He said they must tell their leaders that they must stop these terror tactics and stop trying to destroy the country.

The Minister said that Chairman of the PNC/R, Mr. Robert Corbin, Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte, Mr. Philip Bynoe, Mr. Mark Benschop and others were "actively engaged" in organising these acts of violence, despite claiming now that they had nothing to do with it.

Gajraj told Parliament that PNC/R senior member, Mr. Vincent Alexander had told about 70 persons at Mocha-Arcadia, on the East Bank Demerara, that the People's Solidarity Movement led by Bynoe must be given support in their planned illegal march.

He said the PNC/R leadership was trying to get out of its predicament but the blame must be laid squarely on them.

Praising the Police and the Army for their "impartial and professional conduct", the Home Affairs Minister said there may have been a few instances when the Police may have committed errors, but he added that the security forces "performed creditably under difficult circumstances".

He said, "If the Police did not use constraint, several more bags" would have come out of the Presidential Complex during that day when hooligans, criminals and terrorists attacked, robbed and beat persons in their offices.

He warned that the "law will take its course" and that those persons others have left to continue their reign of terror, will feel the full force of the law.

Gajraj praised President Bharrat Jagdeo for his "relentless efforts in pursuing the dialogue process" which was abruptly broken off by Mr. Hoyte.

Nineteen persons have been charged for varying offences stemming from the invasion of the Presidential Complex during which two of the attackers were shot dead by officers protecting the complex.