Prisoners on hunger strike

Just under 150 prison inmates - about half the prison population - went on a hunger strike yesterday to demand an amnesty on the occasion of Malta's entry to the European Union, a Home Affairs Ministry spokesman said.

It is the second form of action taken in recent days by the inmates of the Corradino Correctional Facility over the issue. Earlier this week they refused to do their normal duties of cooking and carpentry, with prison wardens having to take over.

The call for an amnesty was first made by the organisation which helps prison inmates and their families, Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl, which would like to see the accession celebrations "belong to everyone".

However, the organisation last night deplored the actions taken by the inmates, saying they were unnecessary. It said its appeals to them to stop had fallen on deaf ears, and it expressed solidarity with the wardens "at this delicate moment".