Hundreds of women have become voluntary hostages at a prison in Colombia in a protest over living conditions.

The wives, girlfriends and daughters refused to leave San Isidro jail, in the city of Popayan, in Cauca province, after visiting hours to back up the prisoners' demands for improved human rights.

The BBC's Timothy Ross reports from Bogota (1'42")

Three women - a grandmother, a pregnant woman and a small girl - left during the day but at nightfall 582 volunteer hostages remained inside with more than 1,000 prisoners.

The security forces have sent in reinforcements to surround the prison to prevent escape attempts but the state police commander says no violence has been reported and that the prisoner demands are about living conditions.

Inmates are asking for better drinking water supplies, increased access to medical services, more telephone lines and that their wives be allowed to visit on public holidays as well as Sundays.

They have also demanded negotiations with a representative of the human rights ombudsman's office and Red Cross officials.

Inmates in 'full control'

An unnamed prison guard said the protest broke out at about 1pm local time (1800 GMT). There were no reports of fighting or injuries, but the inmates succeeded in taking "full control" of the jail compound, he said.

This peaceful demonstration is in contrast with other recent prison protests. Last week three men were killed in fighting in a Bogota jail and in the last three months of 1997 there were violent riots and break-out attempts in 12 prisons.

Serious overcrowding started the protests. Some jails are crammed to over double their capacity, with prisoners sleeping on floors, in corridors and in the showers.

Conditions are poor, health services inadequate while rehabilitation and therapy usually non-existent.

Government promises to reduce overcrowding have so far not been kept but under a new plan announced last week, contracts will be awarded to foreign companies to build private prisons.

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