One freed, 121 still held hostage in Brazil prison

One freed, 121 still held hostage in Brazil prison

ARACAJU: -- Negotiators persuaded inmates holding hostages seized during a prison riot in Brazil to free a guard Sunday, but were still working to free three more guards and 118 prisoners' relatives, AFP reports.

A prison spokeswoman called the guard's release a sign of progress a day after inmates seized 122 people in a riot at the maximum-security Advogado Jacinto Filho prison in Aracaju, the capital of the northeast Sergipe state.

"We're moving forward. They've freed one guard. Three remain, along with the 118 family members," Sandra Melo, a spokeswoman for the prison, told AFP.

"Negotiations are also continuing on the relatives' release. We hope this will be resolved today," she said.

A military police captain is leading the negotiations. A judge and representatives of the state human rights commission are also present at the prisoners' request, said Melo, a lawyer for Reviver, a private firm that co-manages the prison with Sergipe state.

The riot broke out 26 days before the opening match of the World Cup in Brazil, which has faced protests over the more than $11 billion being spent on the tournament and a series of strikes that threaten to disrupt it, including by police.

No World Cup games will be played in Sergipe, however.

Full story: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_05_18/One-freed-121-still-held-hostage-in-Brazil-prison-1302/


-- Voice of Russia 2014-05-19