BBC News, October 4, 2006
The number of Argentine prison inmates on hunger strike demanding swifter trials has risen to more than 14,000.
The protest began nearly two weeks ago in a prison on the outskirts of the capital, Buenos Aires, and has since spread to more than 28 prisons.
Jail officials say striking inmates are all taking liquids and are regularly monitored for deteriorating health.
Complaints about the judicial system are frequent and many in pre-trial custody can wait years for a verdict.
Strike leaders say more than 80% of inmates are awaiting trial and are demanding that the legal system be speeded up. Some inmates are not scheduled to appear in court until 2013.
The strikers are also calling for better conditions. Official figures say the prison population has almost doubled in the past five years.
Prison conditions in Argentina, like most of Latin America, are generally poor, with overcrowding, poor food and corruption leading to frequent outbreaks of violence, and sometimes full-scale riots, the BBC's Daniel Schweimler reports from Buenos Aires.
Violence fears
The only prisoners not being asked to join the hunger strike are the elderly and those suffering from Aids and tuberculosis.
As well as faster trials, the prisoners are calling for the justice system to bring rules on the release of prisoners into line with recommendations by human rights groups.
Prison officials say they are in constant contact with the protesters and are holding a dialogue to reach some sort of agreement.
However, there is also concern about the possibility of violence between inmates participating in the protest and those who have decided not to.
"If the protest continues, there could be some incidents," said Buenos Aires provincial Justice Minister Eduardo Di Rocco.
Overcrowding and gang violence sparked a number of jail riots in Argentina last year.
Argentine prisoners end protest
BBC News, October 5, 2006
A hunger strike by more than 14,000 Argentine prisoners demanding swifter trials has ended after two weeks.
It was called off after protesters reached a deal with the authorities, which included the easing of restrictions on early releases.
The strike began in one prison near the capital, Buenos Aires, and quickly spread to others in the region.
The prisoners maintained a dialogue with officials throughout the protest, and there was no violence.
The agreement that ended the strike included a ruling by the highest court in Buenos Aires province that time spent in jail should now count as part of any eventual sentence, Reuters news agency reports.
Grinding slowly
Strike leaders said more than 80% of inmates were awaiting trial and were demanding that the legal system should be speeded up.
Some inmates are not scheduled to appear in court until 2013.
The strikers also called for better conditions. Official figures show the prison population has almost doubled in the past five years.
The BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Buenos Aires says prison conditions in Argentina, like most of Latin America, are generally poor, with overcrowding, poor food and corruption leading to frequent outbreaks of violence, and sometimes full-scale riots.
Prisoners at almost 30 jails joined in the latest hunger strike.
All inmates - apart from the elderly and those suffering from Aids and tuberculosis - took part.