Authorities in Brazil say over 200 people are being held hostage by inmates who have taken over an overcrowded prison in the remote Amazonian state of Rondonia.
The standoff began Sunday at the Urso Branco prison in the state capital of Porto Velho, when inmates seized hostages at knifepoint. Officials say all of those held captive are relatives of the inmates.
The prisoners are demanding the return of one of their heroes, Edinildo Paula de Souza, who was transferred to another prison last month. He led a bloody five-day uprising at Urso Branco in 2004 that left 14 inmates dead.
Authorities have cut off water and electricity supplies and are withholding food from the rioters at Urso Branco - a facility that was built to house 350 inmates, but currently holds at least 1,200.
Some information for this report provided by AP.
