Moscow prison riot

Russian special services yesterday freed all 15 hostages who were being held by inmates at a Moscow pre-trial detention centre, Russia's prison service said.

Three inmates had seized the hostages, including the chief warden, his deputy and other prison workers, after an afternoon walk at the prison in southeastern Moscow, said Alexander Sidorov, a spokesman for the prison service.

The inmates attacked guards during the walk and dressed themselves in the guard's uniforms before gaining entry to a prison building and barricading themselves in a room. Women were among the hostages, Mr Sidorov said.

Local media reported a blast followed by automatic gunfire as special services stormed the prison.

"The special operation to free the hostages took place over just one and half minutes. All the hostages have been freed and no one was injured," Yuri Kalinin, the head of Russia's prison service said, Interfax reported.