Jamaican police quell prison riot, 45 injured

KINGSTON, (Reuters) – Inmates in a Jamaica prison  rioted overnight after guards tried to crack down on drug  trafficking, injuring 36 prisoners and nine officers,  authorities said yesterday.

Soldiers and riot police used tear gas and batons to  restore order at the Horizon Remand Centre in West Kingston,  said Richard Reece, an official with the Ministry of National  Security, said.

“We are back to normal now and the situation has been  contained,” he said.

The inmates, some of whom suffered broken bones in the  riot, had lit fires in their cells and attacked guards who  opened the cell doors, authorities said.

The prisoners were also protesting against water supply  shortages, which have affected parts of the Caribbean island  since the end of last year.