|
|
| Hostages freed, 2 inmates dead in Ecuador prison riots |
| By Reuters |
| Published: 04/14/2004 |
|
Ecuadorean inmates on Tuesday freed hostages seized during a weeklong nationwide uprising to demand improved living conditions, but two more prisoners were killed in rioting inside the decrepit prisons. Prisoners freed dozens of hostages, including several journalists and children whose parents are inmates, to try to advance talks with the government for a solution to the uprising that broke out nine days ago. But they refused to cede control of the prisons. Two inmates were killed on Tuesday in knife fights in Quito's Garcia Moreno prison in the heart of its historic colonial district, a guard told Reuters. Another inmate died in fighting last week. Prisoners sat perched on top of the roofs of the nation's prisons, which the government admits are filled to nearly twice their capacity, in what have become routine protests for sentence reduction and improved living conditions. Armed police stood guard outside the prisons in Quito to prevent any attempt to escape. The riots broke out after officers went on strike to demand cash from the central government for prison upkeep. The government and lawmakers have been in talks with the inmates since last week, but they have failed to reach an accord to restore order in the prisons. Inmates want Congress to reduce sentences to end the protests. On Tuesday, the 100-member legislature started to debate a government proposal to do so. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think