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Date: | Mon, 27 Dec 1999 10:09:10 EST |
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In a message dated 12/27/99 7:04:27 AM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< CoteIvoire-prison
24 prisoners die during jail break after Cote d'Ivoire coup
ABIDJAN, Dec 27 (AFP) - Twenty-four inmates died during a chaotic exodus of
prisoners from Abidjan's main penitentiary when mutineers opened the doors
to release political detainees during a coup here, jail authorities said
Monday.
"The scramble and panic among prisoners, some of whom were suffering from
health problems, were reasons behind the deaths," one official at the
sprawling MACA facility told AFP.
The official also said the prison's main iron doorway collapsed on some of
the inmates.
The entire prison population, estimated at 6,500, escaped,
authorities said.
Mutineers who overthrew president Henri Konan Bedie and his
government on
the morning of December 24 headed shortly afterwards to the jail to release
political prisoners Bedie had jailed, including senior officials of the
opposition party Rally of Republicans (RDR), led by former prime minister
Alassane Ouattara.
me/sa/jlr/nb
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