Paraguay's most crowded prison

An inmate stands inside the Alcatraz wing, housing the most dangerous prisoners of the Tacumbu high security prison in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
One of the leaders of the prisoners' uprising inside Tacumbu prison stands at the bars while holding hostages inside in Asuncion, Paraguay. Prisoners of the Esperanza wing of the jail took warden Mario Pairet and several guards hostage when they rioted against what they claim was ill-treatment, including torture, and bad food. (REUTERS)
A view of inmates inside Tacumbu high security prison in Asuncion. Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo ordered the closing of Tacumbu, the largest prison in the country, because it is populated beyond its capacity and living conditions are precarious. The transfer of the inmates should begin in 2011. (REUTERS)
An inmate makes crafts for sale inside the Tacumbu high security prison in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
Inmates sleep on the floor inside the Tacumbu high security prison in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
A view of inmates' bunks inside the Tacumbu high security prison in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
Inmates dry their laundry inside the Tacumbu high security prison in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
Police with dogs arrive at the Tacumbu prison as prisoners held hostages inside during an uprising for better conditions in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
An inmate makes crafts for sale inside the Tacumbu high security prison in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
Police officer watch over Tacumbu prision in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
Paraguay's former interior minister Sabino Augusto Montanaro to the Tacumbu prison in Asuncion Jun . Montanaro was the chief of the repressive police during the second half of the 35-year long military regime imposed by General Alfredo Stroessner (1954-1989) and faces several law suits for ordering the torture and death of hundreds of Paraguayans, as part of the repressive program of the Latin American dictatorships in the 70s known as the Condor Plan. The 86-year-old man was under custody in a public hospital since May, when he returned to Paraguay after living for 20 years as a political refugee in Honduras. (REUTERS)
Inmates of the Tacumbu maximum security prison mill around inside their section as judges and district attorneys from the Justice Ministry made their biannual visit to verify the status of the cases of those accused of crimes but whose trials are delayed, in Asuncion. Ministry officials confirm that the overpopulation of Paraguay's prisons, where more than half the prisoners remain without having been tried or sentenced, is due to chronic delays in the judicial system responsible for processing them. (REUTERS)
Inmates stand near a fence inside the Tacumbu high security prison in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
Judges and district attorneys from the Justice Ministry interview inmates (right side of the table) at the Tacumbu maximum security prison during a biannual visit to verify the status of the cases of prisoners accused of crimes but whose trials are delayed, in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
Inmates of the Tacumbu maximum security prison line up to be interviewed by judges and district attorneys from the Justice Ministry during a biannual visit to verify the status of the cases of prisoners accused of crimes but whose trials are delayed, in Asuncion. (REUTERS)
Inmates of the Tacumbu maximum security prison mill around inside their section as judges and district attorneys from the Justice Ministry made their biannual visit to verify the status of the cases of those accused of crimes but whose trials are delayed, in Asuncion. (REUTERS)