Prison Rebels Free Hostages To Avoid Raid

Inmates who seized a prison released two of 37 hostages Wednesday and said they would free the others in hopes of preventing a police raid on the complex in southeastern Brazil.

The inmates took over the Tremembe complex, 84 miles northeast of Sao Paulo, on Sunday to protest alleged prison beatings. Three children and 25 relatives of inmates were among the hostages.

After several hours of tense negotiations, the 700 inmates who staged the uprising released two prison guards and offered to give themselves up and let the remaining hostages go Thursday morning. Authorities agreed.

The inmates told negotiators they feared that heavily armed police surrounding the complex would launch a raid at night if they immediately freed all the hostages.