Seven inmates killed in Georgian prison riot
TBILISI, March 27 (Reuters) - Seven prisoners were killed in Georgia on Monday when riot police used firearms to put down a rebellion by inmates trying to break out of a jail in the capital, the Justice Ministry said.
"Our information is that seven people died in total. All the dead are prisoners. Two of them have already been identified," said Tamara Mchedlishvili, spokeswoman for the Justice Ministry.
Gunfire could be heard overnight at Tbilisi's prison No. 5, on the outskirts of the Georgian capital, after police in riot gear were sent in. Some prisoners set fire to their bed sheets and the flames could be seen from the barred windows.
Officials said order had been restored at the prison.
Angry inmates' relatives gathered in a large crowd outside the prison and, backed by opposition party leaders, accused the authorities of indiscriminate violence against the prisoners.
The Health Ministry said 21 people had been wounded, among them two police officers. A ministry spokeswoman said the wounded were in satisfactory condition.
Justice Minister Gia Kavtaradze said the violence was started by prisoners linked to organised crime who were trying to break out, but that police foiled the escape attempt.
He said the riot was part of a coordinated series of violent attacks and prison uprisings throughout the country that organised criminals had planned but never put into motion.
"Very serious forces are considering destabilisation in the country," said Nino Burjanadze, the speaker of parliament. "Our country was saved from a serious crisis and chaos this morning."
An ex-Soviet state in the Caucasus mountains, Georgia was the scene of a peaceful "Rose Revolution" that swept pro-Western reformers to power in 2003.
Prison riots and escapes have happened in the past.
Many of the inmates in prison No. 5 were serving long sentences for violent crimes.
Opposition parties said the violence demonstrated the government was incompetent and demanded ministers be sacked.
They have made similar demands before but with little impact on President Mikhail Saakashvili's administration.
"A government that allows prisoners to be shot at should resign," David Gamkrelidze, leader of the opposition Rightist party, told reporters.
"Our information is that seven people died in total. All the dead are prisoners. Two of them have already been identified," said Tamara Mchedlishvili, spokeswoman for the Justice Ministry.
Gunfire could be heard overnight at Tbilisi's prison No. 5, on the outskirts of the Georgian capital, after police in riot gear were sent in. Some prisoners set fire to their bed sheets and the flames could be seen from the barred windows.
Officials said order had been restored at the prison.
Angry inmates' relatives gathered in a large crowd outside the prison and, backed by opposition party leaders, accused the authorities of indiscriminate violence against the prisoners.
The Health Ministry said 21 people had been wounded, among them two police officers. A ministry spokeswoman said the wounded were in satisfactory condition.
Justice Minister Gia Kavtaradze said the violence was started by prisoners linked to organised crime who were trying to break out, but that police foiled the escape attempt.
He said the riot was part of a coordinated series of violent attacks and prison uprisings throughout the country that organised criminals had planned but never put into motion.
"Very serious forces are considering destabilisation in the country," said Nino Burjanadze, the speaker of parliament. "Our country was saved from a serious crisis and chaos this morning."
An ex-Soviet state in the Caucasus mountains, Georgia was the scene of a peaceful "Rose Revolution" that swept pro-Western reformers to power in 2003.
Prison riots and escapes have happened in the past.
Many of the inmates in prison No. 5 were serving long sentences for violent crimes.
Opposition parties said the violence demonstrated the government was incompetent and demanded ministers be sacked.
They have made similar demands before but with little impact on President Mikhail Saakashvili's administration.
"A government that allows prisoners to be shot at should resign," David Gamkrelidze, leader of the opposition Rightist party, told reporters.
posted by Marko at 3/27/2006 09:03:00 AM
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