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'Many killed' in Syrian jail riot 'Many killed' in Syrian jail riot
(about 5 hours later)
Clashes between guards and prisoners at a jail in Syria have resulted in many deaths, a human rights group says. Clashes between guards and prisoners at a jail in Syria have resulted in many deaths, a human-rights group says.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 25 people had been killed after military police fired live bullets at Islamist inmates.The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 25 people had been killed after military police fired live bullets at Islamist inmates.
The Syrian authorities have not yet commented on the situation, which remains unclear. One inmate told the BBC he believed more than 25 had died.The Syrian authorities have not yet commented on the situation, which remains unclear. One inmate told the BBC he believed more than 25 had died.
Prisoners said the clashes were sparked by raids in which guards beat inmates.Prisoners said the clashes were sparked by raids in which guards beat inmates.
They said the guards had also desecrated copies of the Koran.They said the guards had also desecrated copies of the Koran.
The prisoners said the early morning raids were in response to a protest by detainees several weeks ago about conditions at the jail near Damascus, which houses chiefly Islamist and political prisoners. The inmates said the early-morning raids were in response to a protest by detainees several weeks ago about conditions at Saydnaya Prison near Damascus, which houses chiefly Islamist and political prisoners.
Billowing smokeBillowing smoke
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted a political prisoner reached by mobile phone inside the jail as saying that the riot had been started by Islamist inmates.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted a political prisoner reached by mobile phone inside the jail as saying that the riot had been started by Islamist inmates.
A number of prisoners had climbed on to the roof of the prison to escape continued shooting with live ammunition by guards, the group said on its website.A number of prisoners had climbed on to the roof of the prison to escape continued shooting with live ammunition by guards, the group said on its website.
"The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights demands that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad intervenes immediately to stop this massacre," it said."The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights demands that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad intervenes immediately to stop this massacre," it said.
The group told the AFP news agency that several hundred soldiers were being held hostage in the jail in order to put pressure on the Syrian authorities.The group told the AFP news agency that several hundred soldiers were being held hostage in the jail in order to put pressure on the Syrian authorities.
Muhannad al-Hassani, head of Syria's National Organisation for Human Rights, told the Associated Press news agency he could see smoke billowing from the building and prisoners standing on the roof. Ammar al-Qurabi, of Syria's National Organisation for Human Rights (NOHR), told al-Arabiya TV, a Dubai-based channel, that it was too early to get a clear figure of how many had been killed or injured.
He said ambulances were carrying the injured to hospital from the prison. He said the authorities had viewed disobedience by the prisoners as rioting and so had responded with live ammunition.
Another human rights activist in contact with the inmates by telephone told the AP that at least nine people were dead. The NOHR hoped the incident would push Syrian officials to listen to detainees' complaints over conditions, he said, rather than using force.
Muhannad al-Hassani, also from the NOHR, told the Associated Press news agency he could see smoke billowing from the building and prisoners standing on the roof.
He said ambulances were carrying the injured to hospital. Meanwhile, Syrian troops had closed roads around the prison, he said, and phone lines in the area had been cut off.
A Beirut-based human-rights activist in contact with the inmates by telephone told the AP that at least nine people were dead.