Prison escape tests Games security

MELBOURNE, Mar 14 (Reuters) Commonwealth Games security was put under the microscope again today after four teenage prisoners escaped from a juvenile detention centre near the athletes village.

''The youths scaled several fences before being arrested a short distance from the centre,'' a police spokeswoman said.

She said it was not yet known if the teenagers were arrested in or near the Games village, adding that they would be charged with escape and trespass.

The teenagers, aged between 14 and 16, escaped from the facility close to the Games village at Parkville in suburban Melbourne at about 3 p.m. (0930 IST).

With Queen Elizabeth II due to open the 18th Commonwealth Games tomorrow, security is already under scrutiny as police investigate allegations a teenage girl working in the village was indecently assaulted.

Victorian state police said on Tuesday they had confiscated the passport of an Indian team official who is helping them with their inquiries.

The complaint was lodged by a 16-year-old girl, who worked as a cleaner at the village, on Monday.

REUTERS PM BS1343