Prisoners at Paraguay's largest prison rioted on Tuesday, taking 11 prison guards hostage and setting fire to facilities at the crowded Takumbu prison on the outskirts of the capital.
According to the Minister of the Interior, Enrique Rieira, the two hostages were subsequently released after the government and army responded to the rebellion. He said two policemen were injured in the clashes.
Nearly 4,000 inmates are housed in a crumbling tin roof building at Takumbu prison, and according to local security experts, gangs have had an almost sweeping impact on life inside.
Police prepared with riot shields when the entrance to the prison caught fire, though authorities later said firefighters had brought the fire under control.
Meanwhile, families of prisoners gathered outside, waiting for news of their loved ones.
Interior Minister Rierla said Paraguay would push for prison reform once the unrest subsided.
The Ministry of Justice of Paraguay said on 3 August that the current Government has made progress in reforming the prison system and introducing new models of prison management, which will help prisoners to better rehabilitate and improve corruption in prisons.