Sally-Ann David, Guernsey Electricity's corporate strategy director, said the company was disappointed not to be allowed to take the "pragmatic step" of demolishing the houses.

BBC: Guernsey Electricity plan to demolish houses rejected

Israel has responded by punishing the families of suicide bombers, by demolishing their houses or deporting family members from the West Bank to Gaza, though on August 13th the Supreme Court blocked, at least temporarily, three such expulsions.

ECONOMIST: Another blind alley | The

They are now carrying out controlled detonations of the unsafe houses in Ahmedabad and demolishing them.

BBC: E-mail: Picking up the pieces

Meanwhile, American banks overloaded with foreclosed properties are demolishing vacant dwellings to get the empty houses off their books.

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