Three prisoners killed as police tackle riots

At least three prisoners were killed by guards today at a prison in the village of Petrovka just outside the capital, Bishkek, said Kalbu Temirbekova, the mother of one of the inmates.

Temirbekova said she and other visitors didn’t see the bodies, but heard about the victims from inmates.

In the Modovanovka prison colony, about 12 miles north of Bishkek where unrest also flared early today, unspecified casualties were reported as well.

The prison was surrounded by dozens of troops armed with Kalashnikov rifles, and witnesses saw at least two ambulances leaving the prison compound.