MOZAMBIQUE— The Mozambican police on Monday prevented a group of seven prisoners, mostly arrested in connection with the wave of kidnappings that have shaken Mozambican cities since late 2011, from escaping from the cells of the Maputo City Police Command.

According to the spokesperson for the General Command of the police, Pedro Cossa, speaking at his weekly press briefing, the escape attempt occurred after the police allowed the prisoners to take a stroll in the yard.

But the prisoners refused to return to their cells, and attempted to riot. To regain control of the situation, and to prevent any of the prisoners escaping, Cossa said, the police resorted to the use of tear gas and rubber bullets. He stressed that, since the prisoners were unarmed, there was no question of resorting to live ammunition.

Cossa added that the rioters had damaged prison furniture and some of the surveillance equipment. He said that nobody was killed or injured during the riot.

A different version of events was given by an anonymous source cited by the independent daily “O Pais”, who claimed that the prisoners were complaining of ill treatment and inhuman conditions.

The paper's source said the prisoners are only allowed out of their cells once a month and only receive meals once a day.

This source also claimed there was a shootout, because the prisoners had taken four policemen hostage and seized their weapons.

“O Pais” reporters were refused permission to enter the cells after the riot had been quelled.

Source: All Africa