Guards accused of Egypt prison slaughter

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CAIRO, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Guards at an Egyptian prison gunned down scores of inmates and a visitor during unrest, prisoners allege.

Amnesty International said Monday inmates at the al-Qatta al-Gadeed Prison near Cairo have given the names of 43 victims. One officer also is reported dead.

A man whose body arrived at a Cairo morgue Saturday may have been a relative shot while visiting an inmate, sources at the morgue and prison said.

Another 81 inmates have been wounded since unrest broke out at the prison Jan. 29, in the midst of Egypt's uprising, say lawyers for their families. Inmates had asked to be freed after hearing of other prisoner releases in Egypt.

Prison administrators quit soon after the trouble started, prisoners and their families told Amnesty. Fellow prisoners had to treat the wounded since no medical attention was being provided by the authorities, they said.

A forensic physician, speaking anonymously, said 115 corpses from at least four prisons were brought to the Zenhom morgue, most with bullet wounds in the head, neck and chest, suggesting sniper attacks from watchtowers.