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Thursday, 23 March 2006, 14:13 GMT

Seven die in Brazil prison riot

Prison riot at a jail in Sao Paulo state. File Photo At least seven inmates have been killed during a riot at a Brazilian jail, the sixth in Sao Paulo state this week.

They died from smoke inhalation after prisoners set fire to mattresses in the Jundai jail, in the state of Sao Paulo. The uprising started on Wednesday as inmates protested against the transfer of some of prisoners to another jail.

The inmates at the Jundai jail, about 30km (19 miles) west of Sao Paulo, took several guards and police officers hostage, but later freed most of them.

The Brazilian authorities said prisoners still controlled part of the jail, and negotiations were under way to try end the standoff.

The Jundai prison was designed to hold 120 inmates, but 470 are detained there.

In the past, rioting has been blamed on poor living conditions, but also on organised crime gangs that enjoy power and influence in the penitentiary system.



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Related to this story:
Brazil annuls jail deaths verdict (16 Feb 06 |  Americas )
Deal frees Brazil prison hostages (28 Dec 05 |  Americas )
Brazilian prison official killed (19 Dec 05 |  Americas )
Uprising ends in Brazilian prison (15 Jun 05 |  Americas )
Guard dies in Brazil prison riot (17 Mar 05 |  Americas )
Latin America: Crisis behind bars (16 Nov 05 |  Americas )
Country profile: Brazil (18 Feb 06 |  Country profiles )

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