Thirteen Inmates Killed In Turkish Prison Fire

A relative of an inmate remonstrates with Turkish policemen standing guard outside Sanliurfa prison, where at least 13 prisoners died in a fire on June 17.

Thirteen inmates have died after a fire broke out at a prison in southeastern Turkey, officials say.

The fire occurred late on June 16 after a disturbance among inmates at the facility in Saluirfa Province.

According to some reports, prisoners started the fire setting mattresses alight during a protest action.

Firefighters put out the blaze in about 90 minutes.

Ibrahim Ayhan, a parliamentary deputy from the Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party is reportedly an inmate at the prison, but was not believed to have been injured in the fire.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP