Whistle-Blower Killed in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, June 24 -- A cattle farmer who prompted an inquiry into an alleged government death squad in Guyana was shot and killed Thursday.

George Bacchus, 51, had appeared on television alleging that a government-sponsored death squad had been formed to hunt down criminals, and that his brother was killed in a drive-by shooting meant for him. Bacchus was due to testify this week against two men charged with the Jan. 5 killing of his brother.

Four people were detained in connection with George Bacchus's death, the police chief said.

Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen on Wednesday quit a related case involving the deaths of a city undertaker and a market vendor, citing death threats.