Bolivia to investigate prison riot

(Vatican Radio) Bolivia's President Evo Morales is ordering an investigation into a prison riot, which has killed 29 inmates and injured more than fifty.

Police Chief Alberto Jorge Aracena says the riot broke out between factions of inmates, over control of two blocks of the Palmasola jail in the Eastern City of Santa Cruz.

He says a factor which added to the severity of the incident involved some inmates setting fire to a propane gas cylinder, which then ignited, causing mayhem. Many inmates have been taken to hospital and the death toll is expected to rise due to a number of critical burn injuries.

Children and family members are also thought to be among the dead. They often live alongside prisoners, because they're too poor to go elsewhere.

Listen to James Blears’ report: