Nearly 50 inmates escape Libyan prison, 1 killed

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — A Libyan security official says nearly 50 inmates have fled a prison in an oasis city in the country’s southern desert, and authorities shot one dead during the escape.

The security official said the inmates broke out of the prison in Sabha early Tuesday. He said prison guards fired warning shots to stop them, which resulted in the death of one. Two others were injured.

The official said nine inmates were arrested while authorities continue the search for 36 others. The official said the prisoners were rioting against what they said were bad prison conditions, setting fire to their cells, and breaking up doors. He said they jumped over the prison wall. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.