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Indonesian forces open fire at Bali jail

INMATES at a Balinese prison, which holds 12 Australian drug mules and other offenders, have taken over the jail again during a second night of riots.

Some 400 heavily armed police and military forces were gathered outside the overcrowded Kerobokan prison, which holds 1000 inmates, including 12 Australians convicted of drug smuggling.

"The prisoners took over the prison again, which forced security personnel to fire warning shots into the air," provincial military command spokesman Wing Handoko said.

"The rioters wanted their friends being treated in the hospital to be taken back because they were afraid they would be mistreated by security forces," he said.

An AFP reporter heard three minutes of continuous gunfire, but it was unclear if there were any casualties.

A flaming torch made of rags wrapped around a pole was flung from inside the prison and landed near a television vehicle, but was extinguished before the fire could spread.

The prison was without light because electricity, cut off during Tuesday's rioting, still had not been restored by authorities.

"There are 51 foreign prisoners from 17 countries at the prison. We will give them special security if the situation warrants," Mr�Handoko said before the shooting.

It was not clear whether yesterday's riot was close to the wing where Australian or other foreign prisoners are housed.

Police and military forces had stormed the prison early yesterday to regain control after inmates took over the prison during a night of arson and stone-throwing.

All 12 Australian prisoners at Kerobokan, including two on death row and six serving life sentences, were safe after that trouble, Australia's foreign ministry said after Indonesian police had regained control of the facility.

Some 100 heavily armed police and military had stormed the jail on the holiday island at around dawn yesterday, firing volleys of rubber bullets.

Officials said they intervened after attempts to negotiate with the rioting prisoners had failed, and after some inmates managed to get hold of firearms.

Three inmates had been injured in the legs, and a police officer was lightly hurt, police said.

Among the Australians at the jail are convicted drug trafficker Schapelle Corby and a group known as the Bali Nine, who were caught attempting to smuggle drugs from Bali.

Up to 1000 armed security forces backed by armoured vehicles and water cannon were stationed outside the jail yesterday morning, which is in a suburban area of Bali seven kilometres from the tourism hub of Kuta beach.

But police said the situation had returned to normal by late afternoon, and that only about 30 armed personnel had remained outside.

There have been a number of riots at the jail in recent years, including one triggered by a police drug raid in June.
It is one of Indonesia's most notorious prisons, with a combustible mix of inmates including convicted murderers, sex offenders and others guilty of violent crimes.

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