Protests turn violent at Greek prisons

ATHENS, Greece, April 25 (UPI) -- Protests demanding better living conditions at nine Greek prisons turned violent this week forcing authorities to send in riot police at two prisons.

While most of Tuesday's protests were limited to inmates simply refusing to return to their cells, riot police were called to Athens' Korydallos Prison when inmates climbed onto the roof and began destroying property, Kathimerini reported.

After inmates began tearing down barbed wire fences on the prison's roof, police responded with tear gas to prevent escapes and to drive the rioters back into their cells.

The series of demonstrations began with a protest on Monday at Greece's Malandrino Prison, where inmates demanded better living conditions and reduced life sentences.

Greek Justice Minister Anastassis Papaligouras said a review would be conducted of the struggling prison system, but drew the line on reducing life sentences to proposed 12-year terms.

"The government will not negotiate upholding the law ... but we are willing to listen to prisoners' grievances," he told the newspaper.