Rio de Janeiro, Aug 26 (EFE).- Rioting prisoners at a penitentiary in the southern Brazilian state of Parana ended their uprising before dawn Tuesday, freed the two hostages they were holding and admitted the authorities, who found the body of a fifth fatality.
The rebellion came to an end around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday after continuing for 45 hours and leaving five inmates dead including two who were beheaded, 25 injured and structural damage to at least 80 percent of Cascavel State Penitentiary, the Parana Justice Department said.
The two guards held hostage since Sunday were released and had to be taken to hospital for various non-life-threatening injuries.
The rebellion ended after the authorities transferred 851 of the 1,040 prisoners from Cascavel to other jails with better living conditions.
The rioters complained about the miserable condition of the infrastructure, hygiene and meals at the prison, as well as the alleged brutality of the guards.
Only 265 inmates remain at Cascavel.
Authorities have not yet revealed the causes of the death of the fifth fatality nor in what condition they found the body.
Around 600 of the 1,040 inmates at Cascavel took part in the rebellion to demand improved food and living conditions and an end to abuses by guards.
One of the two inmates beheaded by the rebels was a former police officer.
The mutinous inmates occupied the roof of the prison, where they set fire to mattresses and held up signs bearing the initials PCC, referring to the First Capital Command, the largest criminal outfit in the neighboring state of Sao Paulo.
