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Riot erupts at Afghanistan prison

KABUL, March 19 (KUNA) -- At least nine prisoners were injured as police resorted to firing to quell a riot staged by some prisoners at a high-security jail east of this Afghan capital on Wednesday.
Although senior officials in the government as well as jail officials were tight-lipped about the incident at jail, a doctor said he had treated some prisoners who had suffered bullet injuries during a riot at Puli Charkhi prison.
The jail is located on the busiest Kabul-Jalalabad Highway. It has been scene to riots and strikes by the inmates in the past as well. In 2006, the deadlock continued for several days when some inmates took hostage their colleagues at a barrack.
In recent months, some Taliban prisoners, who were earlier in the US forces custody at the Bagram airbase, have also been shifted to the Puli Charkhi prison.
The Ministry of Interior as well the Justice Ministry in Kabul did not officially confirm the fresh riot inside the high-security prison. It was also not known if the Taliban prisoners or other people jailed for various crimes were responsible for the riot. (end) gk.bs KUNA 192004 Mar 08NNNN