Syria puts down prison riot
Syria’s official news agency said a prison riot near Damascus is over but made no mention of casualties.
Human rights activists said at least nine inmates were killed.
SANA reported the rioting at Saidnaya prison broke out yesterday during a routine inspection. It said officers have restored calm.
But a human rights activist said that the situation is still tense and volatile.
Mohammed Abdullah, a Beirut-based Syrian rights activist, says he is in phone contact with prisoners’ relatives standing near the compound.
He says inmates can still be seen standing on the prison building’s roof, signalling a continuing stand-off with prison guards and military policemen.
Abdullah had no information on the final death toll, saying all contact with the prisoners had been cut off.
