Rioting Sierra Leone prisoners stab six wardens
FREETOWN, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Hundreds of inmates rioting over poor conditions at Freetown's central prison stabbed six guards during a two-hour clash this week, leaving them in critical condition, a government official said on Wednesday.
The worst incident in a series of riots at the overcrowded facility in recent years, comes as the West African nation struggles to clamp down on high crime levels fuelled by poverty and simmering frustrations since a 1991-2002 civil war.
"There was a riot between hundreds of prisoners and recruit prison officers at the central prison...in the early hours of yesterday," said Mohamed Jimmy, a prison department spokesman. "The fighting lasted for almost two hours when reinforcements from the prison department entered."
He said six prison officers were getting medical care for severe stab injuries sustained in the riot, while four of the inmates were being treated for broken legs and deep cuts.
Jimmy said this was the fourth such protest in recent years.
"To some point they are right. The Freetown central prison at Pademba Road was built to accomodate only 350 prisoners," he said. "But today it is overcrowded with a total of 1,000." (Reporting by Christo Johnson; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Louise Ireland) ((richard.valdmanis@thomsonreuters.com; Dakar newsroom +221 33 864 5076)) (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/)
