KINSHASA, Congo — Congo's attorney general says that around 20 female prisoners were raped during a botched prison break attempt.
Oscar Kasangandjo says that male prisoners in the prison in Goma in eastern Congo mutinied on Monday. But when they failed to break through the prison's walls, they attacked the pavilion where the female prisoners were being held and raped around 20 of them.
He said Tuesday that the mutinying prisoners were mostly from the prison's death row section and were armed with grenades.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo called on the government to urgently reform the country's prisons. The Goma prison was built to house 150 prisoners but is holding at least 600.
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Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Oscar Kasangandjo says that male prisoners in the prison in Goma in eastern Congo mutinied on Monday. But when they failed to break through the prison's walls, they attacked the pavilion where the female prisoners were being held and raped around 20 of them.
He said Tuesday that the mutinying prisoners were mostly from the prison's death row section and were armed with grenades.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo called on the government to urgently reform the country's prisons. The Goma prison was built to house 150 prisoners but is holding at least 600.
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Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
