Venezuela prison protest ends

News24 02/05/2003 20:44  - (SA)  

Caracas - Prisoners at a jail near the Venezuelan capital released 400 hostages on Friday at the end of a five day protest over conditions.

The hostages, all relatives of prisoners, had been detained following their weekly Sunday visit to the Rodeo jail east of Caracas. Prisoners protested against ill treatment, insufficient food and lengthy legal processes.

"Today at dawn, all of them were freed following negotiations with the authorities. Everything passed off peacefully," one prisoner's relative said speaking on condition of anonymity.

In total, over 1 000 relatives were detained on Sunday at three different prisons, and according to the authorities all have now been freed.

Venezuela has a prison population of 26 000 housed in overcrowded, unhygienic violence-plagued prisons.