Inmates at Venezuelan prison protest over alleged mistreatment

The prisoners insisted their protest was peaceful but that security forces deployed to quell it opened fire.

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Extra security forces were deployed to the jail after prisoners climbed the roof and burned mattresses in protest at their alleged mistreatment.

Witnesses reported hearing explosions and inmates said they had been shot at.

Organisations lobbying for prisoners' rights have long denounced the poor conditions at many of Venezuela's penitentiaries.

Non-governmental organisation Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP) said that the inmates at the jail, known as Injuba, had been complaining for more than a week about their treatment under the prison's new director.