Brazil Inmates Holding 600 Hostages Vow to Surrender

Inmates holding more than 600 hostages at Sorocaba prison west of Sao Paulo promised to end their standoff today, prison officials said Tuesday.

The standoff began Sunday when a group of inmates, reportedly dressed in women’s clothing, tried to escape. When guards recognized the prisoners, a shootout erupted, killing one inmate and a woman visiting her jailed husband.

Radio reports said the woman had smuggled the women’s clothing into the prison, as well as five guns and an undetermined number of grenades.

Officials said the inmates agreed to be transferred to less crowded prisons. Earlier Tuesday, the inmates dropped their demands for more weapons after 150 special forces troops pulled back from the prison gates in an apparent bid to improve the negotiating climate.

“The prisoners have promised to release all their hostages,” said Police Col. Jairo Paes de Lima.

Joao Benedito de Azevedo Marques, the state prison official who led the talks, said by phone that negotiations about the transfer were in the final stages.

The inmates initially seized 716 hostages--17 guards and 699 relatives visiting prisoners. They later released 78 relatives.

In an attempt to pressure authorities, the inmates tortured some of the guards they were holding hostage, prison official Selma Giron said. The relatives being held hostage were not mistreated.

The prison, which has a capacity of 500 inmates, houses about 900.