|
|
| Death toll from Saudi prison fire at 94 |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 09/18/2003 |
|
The death toll of a fire that raged through a Riyadh prison has risen to 94, a Saudi prison official said Tuesday. Relatives of inmates waited outside al-Haer prison a day after the fire to learn the fate of family members in a fire that burned some bodies beyond recognition, the official said. Authorities initially said 67 people died and 23 suffered from smoke inhalation. It took firefighters about three hours to bring the fire under control. The cause appeared to be an electrical short-circuit at the prison 12 miles south of Riyadh. London-based Amnesty International said it receives regular complaints of overcrowding in Saudi prisons. The group said it has not been allowed in the kingdom despite repeated requests. Human Rights Watch, based in New York, visited the kingdom in January and said in a report that there were 7,000 Saudi citizens and 6,000 foreigners were imprisoned in the kingdom, according to Saudi officials. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think