World IN BRIEF : BRAZIL : Police Hunt Escaped Inmates After Siege

Using helicopters and highway roadblocks, police set up a nationwide dragnet for inmates who fled a maximum-security prison with hostages, guns, cellular phones and $100,000 in cash. Six hostages used as human shields during Wednesday’s escape from the Agro-Industrial Penitentiary in central Brazil were released unharmed, police said. The inmates’ flight was part of a deal, worked out with authorities during a six-day standoff, in which they received guns, cars and money in exchange for releasing some of the hostages. Of the 40 escapees, 30 were still at large, while eight had been captured and two were killed in a shootout. One bystander was killed during an exchange of gunfire.