Police say the revolt started after a group of inmates, [prisoners], refused to return to their cells and tried to escape by climbing a prison wall.
They say early reports indicate a group of guards initially fired shots in the air to control the revolt at La Esperanza prison about six kilometres north of San Salvador.
Anti-riot police were then deployed in an effort to restore order while other officers surrounded the jail to stop any further escape attempts by the 3,200 prisoners.
By Just Us 19 August 04
