Libya prison deadline after
death
 Col
Gaddafi's regime is changing - but too slowly for critics.
The authorities in Libya have ordered protesters at a jail in Tripoli to
return to their cells by the end of the day after violence erupted. A
sit-in protest began at Abu Salim prison last week over trial delays.
Amnesty International say security forces fired live ammunition and tear
gas at the prisoners, leaving one dead. Hundreds were reportedly shot
dead by guards during a protest over conditions in the same prison in
1996. The authorities are refusing to infoment. In recent years, Libya
has been working to improve prison conditions. Some 190 prisoners are
said to be involved in the protest. Amnesty has called for an
independent investigation into the alleged killing, The prison is known
to hold political prisoners, although the Libyan government has
repeatedly denied such claims saying they are all Islamic
fundamentalists. Earlier this year Libya released 85 prisoners from the
Muslim Brotherhood group.
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