Afghan high official began talking with the prisoners in Pul-e-Charkhi jail in outskirts of Afghan capital Kabul Monday evening to end the prison riot.

"According to the demand of the prisoners, tonight I met with the representatives of them. The riot is notorious for Afghanistan and all the officials, so we must find ways to resolve it," Sebghatullah Mujaddadi, the head of the reconciliation and peace committee and the chairman of the Upper House said.

The riot began from Saturday afternoon and entered its third day till now, and the prisoners have occupied some buildings of the prison.

"The prisoners have already promised to send the injured persons outside for treatment if there are any. Tomorrow the negotiation will continue," he added.

About the casualty of the prisoners and police, Mujaddadi refused to give any information. But according to some local TV station, some prisoners inside said 14 persons were killed, 36 were injured.

Mujaddadi, the famous religious leader and a Jihad leader as well, has been elected as the head of the reconciliation and peace committee and the chairman of the Upper House for his high reputation. Till now, more than 1,000 Taliban militants have joined the reconciliation and peace process led by him.

Abdul Salam Bakhshi, director of the prison said it's Taliban who led the riot, and one of the demands raised by prisoners is releasing amnesty by the government not only to the prisoners in Pul-e-Charkhi but also all the prisons around Afghanistan.

According to some report, about 50 to 70 al-Qaida members and Taliban militants led the riot with the aim of escaping from the prison.

Hundreds of Afghan soldiers, police backed by the U.S.-led coalition and NATO troops have deployed around the jail to control the situation.

Backed by tanks and armored personnel carriers, the soldiers also have the order to fire if the situation requires.

Built in 1970s the fortified jail has been housing about 2,000 alleged offenders with over 300 of them on charge of having links with Taliban and al-Qaida network.

It is the third jailbreak in the Pul-e-Charkhi prison over the past two years. In the first one, which took place in 2004, four inmates lost their lives in police firing while seven suspected Taliban operatives escaped the jail last year by disguising themselves as visitors.

Source: Xinhua