Brazilian inmates threaten further uprisings

Inmates in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo have threatened further uprisings this weekend if restrictions on visits are not lifted.

Prison authorities banned visits following a wave of uprisings across the state earlier this week.

A spokesman for the prison authorities Nagashi Furukana said the ban would only apply to prisons were there had been disturbances.

Nineteen prisoners were killed in the mass rebellion that started last weekend in nearly thirty prisons in Sao Paulo.

Inmates were protesting against moves to break up prison gangs by transferring some inmates to other jails.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service