Prison fire kills 3, wounds 30 in Baghdad

A prison fire in eastern Baghdad killed three inmates and wounded some 30 others early Monday, an Interior Ministry source said. The fire broke out early in the morning in Baladiyat prison in the eastern part of the capital and had been brought under control by firefighters after several hours, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Iraqi security forces rushed to the scene and cordoned off the surrounding neighborhoods to secure the area, while the police launched an investigation into the incident, the source said. "No prisoners have escaped in the incident," the source confirmed. Riot and prison breaks frequently occurred in Iraqi-run prisons across the country that resulted in the killing and injuries of prisoners and security guards as well as in the escape of many dangerous prisoners.