[MargaretR]

It is interesting to note that food shops were among those looted.
When spending cuts reduce incomes, at the same time as inflation increases food costs, even normally law abiding people will steal to feed their families.

This is how the French revolution began, and the revolutions being described as 'the arab spring' have an element of protest against food costs.

PS I am not justifying the actions of either side of this 'conflict' - just trying to identify the possible causes.