Emergency of prison infrastructure extended to three months

Venezuela's Minister of Penitentiary Services Iris Varela reported on Wednesday that President Hugo Chávez approved a three-month extension of the emergency in prison infrastructure. She specified that in the meantime, the government will speed up the building of new jails.

Varela also reported that most of the inmates leaving Uribana will be taken to nearby Yaracuy.

She promised free transport for inmates' relatives from Lara state to the new prisons.

Varela is positive that her ministry actions show that government authorities are ready and determined to "bury the chapter of violence in the penitentiary system."

The minister briefed on nationwide sports activities from February. "We fight idleness with sports." She added that the purpose is to make the initiative of an international nature.