28 die in Turkish prison crackdown

The Turkish authorities have given more details of the casualties from this week's raids by security forces on a number of prisons across the country.

A military official Ali Aydin said a total of twenty-six prisoners died during the operation -- sixteen of them after setting fire to themselves.

Two security personnel were also killed.

The raids, which ended yesterday Friday, were launched to end a hunger strike by inmates protesting against changes in prison conditions.

Interior ministry officials said the operation had dealt a serious blow to extreme left-wing groups which they say masterminded the prisoners' action.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service