Around 100 inmates rioted in one wing of Lebanon's largest prison on Tuesday to demanded reduced sentences, a security official told Agence France Presse (AFP). "A number of inmates at Rumieh prison began rioting this evening, burning mattresses and other items to press their demands for reduced sentences," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
He said security reinforcements had been sent to the prison eight kilometres (five miles) northeast of the capital Beirut and the rioting died down after about 90 minutes. Five prisoners suffered smoke inhalation, he added.
The same prison was the scene of a mutiny in April last year in which seven warders were held hostage overnight before a peaceful resolution was negotiated. A riot also broke out at the Qubbah prison in the main northern city of Tripoli in January with inmates holding two wardens overnight. |