Related: 5 killed, 20 injured in prison riot in Kabul

   

Afghan journalists wait to get more information on a broken vehicle outside the Pulecharkhi prison on the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, on Feb. 27, 2006. A riot happening on Feb. 25 in this Afghan biggest prison has left five people dead and 20 others injured, local TV station reported. (Xinhua Photo)

KABUL, Feb. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- While inmates'riot in Afghanistan's main prison entered its third day Monday, authorities are trying to end the crisis peacefully, the director of the prison said on Monday.

    "Though we have beefed up security around the jail, we are trying to find a peaceful solution to the crisis as they are human being and we do not want to create human disaster," Abdul Salam Bakhshi, director of the Pul-e-Charkhi prison, told Xinhua.

    He also said that talks between the government and the prisoners are going on. However, he declined to disclose who is conducting the negotiation from the government side.

    More than 1,000 inmates took control of part of the jail in the outskirts of Kabul on Saturday night, demanding meeting with the Vice President and head of National Assembly.

    None of the officials they demanded has met the rioters so far, Bakhshi added.

    Hundreds of Afghan soldiers and police, backed by the United States-led coalition and NATO troops, have deployed around the jail to help control the situation.

File photo taken in December 2005 shows Timor Shah (Front), a main leader of the riot happening on Feb. 25, 2006 in Pulecharkhi prison on the outskirts of Afghanistan's capital Kabul. The riot in this Afghan biggest prison has left five people dead and 20 others injured, local TV station reported. (Xinhua Photo)

    With tanks and armored personnel carriers, the soldiers also have the order to fire if the situation requires.

    Deputy Minister for Justice Mohammad Qasim Hashimzai, who has been trying for the last two days to find a peaceful solution for the crisis, had not ruled out the use of force."Despite all possible options are open, we want to settle it peacefully,"he said.

    At least six persons, including a police and five inmates, have been injured, according to official figures. But the detainees rejected the figure, saying the clash with warders have left six persons dead and 30 others injured.

    Built in the 1970s, the fortified jail has been housing about 2,000 alleged offenders, including over 300 on charge of having links with Taliban and al-Qaida network.

    It is the third jailbreak in the Pul-e-Charkhi prison over the past two years. In 2004, four inmates lost their lives as police fired. In 2005, seven suspected Taliban operatives successively escaped the jail by disguising themselves as visitors. Endite