Military police quell protest by prison inmates

(12 Mar 2015) Honduran military police on Wednesday quelled a prison riot by inmates protesting an alleged transfer of gang leaders to penitentiaries across the country, local media reported. At least three people were killed and more than 30 injured, including eight prison guards, in the incident in the northwestern city of San Pedro Sula, according to local media. Police told local media that about 400 police officers and soldiers were sent to restore order at the San Pedro Sula Prison, 240 kilometres (149 miles) from the capital Tegucigalpa, but were met with gunfire from inside the penitentiary. After the fire exchange, police entered the prison and restored order. During the raid, police seized automatic weapons, ammunition, mobiles phones, alcohol bottles, among other objects. Romulo Emiliani, a Catholic bishop who mediates talks between police and gang members, said the facility houses 2,700 inmates, but was originally built for 1,300. "This prison has to be closed. This could have been much worse today. Much, worse," Emiliani said. Inmates are opposed to being transferred because they fear for their lives in other detention centres, local media reported. The country has the world's highest homicide rate for a nation not at war, with an estimated 90 to 95 killings per 100-thousand people. Street gangs and drug traffickers are the de-facto authorities in many areas of the Central American country, enforcing their will through violence, fear and extortion. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...