Fighting resumes in Afghan prison

A spasm of violence broke a fragile truce at Kabul’s main prison as rioting inmates tried to push down a gate and police fired on them, killing one and injuring three, officials said.

Outside the jail, women beat the ground as their children wailed, fearful loved ones have been killed in the three-day standoff.

“Oh, my son, are you alive?” cried 60-year-old Zubaida Gul. The latest death brought to five the number of inmates killed since the uprising erupted late Saturday. At least 41 have been wounded.

Police have blamed about 350 Taliban and al-Qaida detainees for inciting the riot.

The two sides agreed to a truce in the violence late Monday, but the deal collapsed 24 hours later over a demand by the authorities that the prisoners move to another wing of the jail, said Abdul Halik, a police commander in the prison.

The inmates refused, saying conditions in the new block were no better than their existing one.

Security forces opened fire as prisoners stormed the gate and one inmate was killed, the commander said.