The World : Police Storm Brazil Prison

Police stormed the maximum-security prison in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where about 250 armed inmates were holding hostages during a seven-hour uprising that left 18 prisoners and two guards dead and dozens wounded, officials said. About 300 police invaded the Sao Paulo State Penitentiary and gradually freed 30 hostages in gun and knife battles with inmates, they said. State prison judge Fabio Gouveia said authorities found it “impossible” to negotiate with the prisoners who had “never presented a list of demands.” He denied that police used excessive force in quelling the riot.