Prisoners riot in Georgia, reports of fatalities

TBILISI, Mar 27 (Reuters) Riot police were sent into a prison in Georgia's capital early today to put down a rebellion by inmates, with unconfirmed reports that some prisoners had been killed and wounded.

A member of Georgia's parliament told Reuters that seven prisoners were killed and 19 wounded in the clashes, but there was no official information on casualties.

Order has now been restored in Tbilisi's prison No 5 after inmates with links to organised crime tried to stage a mass breakout overnight, Justice Minister Gia Kavtaradze told a news conference.

He said some police officers were hurt, but gave no further information about casualties.

''My information is that seven people died and 19 were hurt as a result of the clashes between prisoners and riot police,'' member of parliament Yelena Tevdoradze told Reuters.

REUTERS SHB RK1330