Judges die in Pakistan prison riot

Police commandos stormed a Pakistan jail today after prisoners took nine visiting judges and 50 female detainees hostage.

The raid ended the drama, but left three of the judges dead.

The commandos were called in after the five prisoners threatened to kill the hostages six hours after seizing them, said police official Malik Iqbal.

The prisoners had earlier freed four judges who told police the hostage takers wanted a small bus, weapons and safe passage.

"We tried to negotiate with them but when the prisoners said they would kill the judges we brought in the commandos," Malik said.

The incident occurred at the Sialkot maximum-security prison, 60 miles north-east of Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province.

The judges were taken hostage while inspecting the jail.

The maximum-security prison is badly overcrowded. About 2,700 prisoners, including 200 women, are held in the prison, which was built to house 1,800.

Iqbal said none of the women hostages received any injuries.