18 inmates killed in prison riot

A riot in the main prison of the Central American country of Honduras has killed at least 18 inmates. It's the second incident in the country's overcrowded prison system in a week.

The riot at the National Penitentiary north of the capital began late on Friday.

Thirty-one prisoners were attacked by cellmates with knives and guns. The prisoners had been transferred from

another prison a few hours previously. Thirteen of them survived.

The prison was under control late Saturday and police began their investigation.

Jorge Rodas, Minister of Public Security said "At this moment, we have issued instructions across the country to

ensure that the group that was transferred from the San Pedro facility to other locations are guaranteed their

safety so this does not happed again."

Last Saturday, nine inmates were killed in a riot at another prison.

Honduras has 25 prisons which are overflowing with some twelve thousand inmates.