JOHANNESBURG, April 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Thirty-seven awaiting trial prisoners escaped from Sekhukhuni police station in Limpopo province, northern South Africa, on Sunday morning after disarminga policeman and grabbing the keys to the holding cells.

    Superintendent Patty Khumalo said that a policeman went to the cells to give them food, but they took his gun and the cells keys and opened all the cells.

    Eleven of the 37 were immediately rearrested in Sekhukhuni village, but the other 26 armed were still at large, said Khumalo,warning anyone who came across them not to confront them as they were armed and "very dangerous."

    They were in custody for alleged crimes such as murder, rape, assault, pointing a firearm and motor vehicle theft, she said.

    Khumalo advised anyone who knew of the fugitives whereabouts tocontact Sekhukhuni police station.

    She said there had been 87 detainees in the cells at the time of the escape. Enditem