Couple kill themselves after looting

Published December 22, 2001

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 21: A Korean couple whose shop outside the Argentine capital was looted committed suicide on Thursday.

The husband and wife took their lives at their home at Cuidadela, 10 miles outside Buenos Aires, where their business was also based, Security Ministry officials for Buenos Aires province said.

The two were devastated at the loss of all their assets in the looting late Wednesday.

The couple were among many Korean and Chinese nationals to open businesses in traditional districts of the capital and the Buenos Aires greater metropolitan area during the past few years.

At Villa Fiorito to the south of the capital, a trader of Chinese origin killed a man who entered his supermarket along with other looters to steal food.

China expressed its concern at violent events and urged authorities to increase efforts to protect the lives and property of Chinese citizens.—AFP