By DPA
Caracas : At least 15 prisoners have been killed in the clashes between rival gangs in a prison in south-western Venezuela, the interior ministry here said.
The fights occurred during visiting hours Saturday in the Santa Ana prison, in the province of Tachira.
Prisoners battled using guns and knives, said Interior Minister Pedro Carreno.
The national guards, however, regained control of the facility, the minister said.
Carreno blamed paramilitary groups for the clashes, saying the state had been making huge efforts to maintain peace in prisons “but a few organisations continue to provoke unrest.”
The murders of the chief administrator of the Santa Ana jail and his deputy four months ago, have also been blamed on paramilitary organisations.
The prison holds about 900 inmates.
Venezuela has 26,000 prison inmates, who live in miserable conditions that often lead to revolts.