Inmates Take Control of a Third Prison

A third Colombian prison fell under control of rebellious inmates amid a growing wave of protests against overcrowding and poor living conditions that began with the killing of four guards last week. The latest riot occurred in the Modelo prison in Bucaramanga, the site of frequent clashes between the military and leftist rebels. The riot followed last week’s bloody uprising at the main jail in Valledupar, where four guards were killed. Another riot erupted over the weekend at the Barne prison in Tunja, where at least one guard was being held hostage. A standoff between hundreds of police and soldiers and the more than 550 prisoners in Valledupar, who are holding 13 hostages, continued with no sign of a settlement.