Seven guards were taken hostage Thursday by prisoners when riot erupted in Lebanese central Roumiyeh Prison, northeast of Beirut, local LBC TV reported.
The report said that a dispute between a prison guard and one of the inmates from a Palestinian dissident developed into a riot when prisoners set mattresses on fire and took over the kitchen knives.
Meanwhile, Naharnet news website quoted security sources as saying that hundreds of riot policemen advanced across the ground floor of the building after firefighters extinguished a blaze that inmates had started in mattresses after taking guards hostage.
Lebanese judge is reported to be inside the prison for negotiating with prisoners to free the hostage.
The prisoners are demanding better treatment and conditions of life, as well as shortening there terms in prison, said the report.
Roumiyeh is Lebanon's largest prison. Four ex-security commanders, detained on suspicion of involving the 2005 murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri, are also jailed in the prison.
Source:Xinhua
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