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GUATIRE, Venezuela – Thousands of National Guard troops stormed a Venezuelan prison Friday seeking to disarm inmates days after a bloody riot, setting off gunfights with resisting inmates that left at least one soldier dead and 19 wounded.
Bursts of gunfire erupted inside the El Rodeo I prison while hundreds of inmates' relatives wept desperately outside, some of them shouting, "Help them!"
Troops used tear gas and a water cannon to keep the relatives back from the prison as ambulances emerged to carry out the wounded.
One National Guard soldier died and 19 were wounded, Vice President Elias Jaua said. He did not mention any casualties among the inmates.
"Part of those who are incarcerated have resisted," Deputy Justice Minister Nestor Reverol told state television, saying that some of the troops were shot with high-powered weapons. He said they were in a prison tower and had refused to come down.
A military helicopter circled overhead while gunfire rang out inside the prison in what appeared be shootouts. A fire broke out in a prison tower, and then died down as the gunfire persisted.
"We can't permit anarchy in the penitentiary," Reverol said as the gunshots continued to be heard. "We demand the inmates change their attitude."
More than 3,500 troops were taking part in the operation in El Rodeo I and El Rodeo II prisons in Guatire, east of the capital, Caracas, and had about three-quarters of the prison population of more than 5,000 inmates under control, Reverol said.
The violence erupted as troops were carrying out a search operation to disarm inmates, National Guard Gen. Luis Motta Dominguez told state television. A riot in the prison on Sunday left 21 inmates and a visitor dead.
Friday's clashes were the latest in a series of violent outbursts in Venezuela's severely crowded prisons, where rival gangs often fight for control of cellblocks and sell weapons and drugs with the help of corrupt prison guards.
As the gunfire raged in the prison Friday, inmates' relatives expressed anguish.
Bursts of gunfire erupted inside the El Rodeo I prison while hundreds of inmates' relatives wept desperately outside, some of them shouting, "Help them!"
Troops used tear gas and a water cannon to keep the relatives back from the prison as ambulances emerged to carry out the wounded.
One National Guard soldier died and 19 were wounded, Vice President Elias Jaua said. He did not mention any casualties among the inmates.
"Part of those who are incarcerated have resisted," Deputy Justice Minister Nestor Reverol told state television, saying that some of the troops were shot with high-powered weapons. He said they were in a prison tower and had refused to come down.
A military helicopter circled overhead while gunfire rang out inside the prison in what appeared be shootouts. A fire broke out in a prison tower, and then died down as the gunfire persisted.
"We can't permit anarchy in the penitentiary," Reverol said as the gunshots continued to be heard. "We demand the inmates change their attitude."
More than 3,500 troops were taking part in the operation in El Rodeo I and El Rodeo II prisons in Guatire, east of the capital, Caracas, and had about three-quarters of the prison population of more than 5,000 inmates under control, Reverol said.
The violence erupted as troops were carrying out a search operation to disarm inmates, National Guard Gen. Luis Motta Dominguez told state television. A riot in the prison on Sunday left 21 inmates and a visitor dead.
Friday's clashes were the latest in a series of violent outbursts in Venezuela's severely crowded prisons, where rival gangs often fight for control of cellblocks and sell weapons and drugs with the help of corrupt prison guards.
As the gunfire raged in the prison Friday, inmates' relatives expressed anguish.