(BDCi) – Inmates were holding nearly 100 people hostage at a prison in eastern Brazil on Monday, officials said.
Hundreds of rioting prisoners took over the facility near the coastal city of Aracaju on Sunday afternoon, taking hostage three wardens and 120 civilians, Sergipe state’s security department said.
By Monday morning, 27 civilians and one of the wardens had been freed after negotiations with authorities, the department said. In exchange, authorities restored water and electricity service to the prison complex.
There were no reports of casualties.
At least 470 rioting inmates were demanding speedy trials and new administrators for the prison, the state-run Agencia Brasil reported.
The news agency described the civilian hostages as family members of prisoners.
Negotiations were continuing Monday morning, officials said.
By: Natania Levine Courtesy: cnn.com Photo: Google images 16 April 2012
10:57 a.m P.D.T