Now Lebanon - Prison-reform measures taken during meeting chaired by Hariri - April 6, 2011

Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri chaired a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the conditions of Lebanon’s prisons, amid violence caused by riots that broke out in the Roumieh Prison in the past days.
According to a statement issued by Hariri’s office, a series of decisions were taken in order to improve the condition of the Roumieh compound.
Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar, Attorney General Judge Said Mirza, Internal Security Forces (ISF) General Director Achraf Rifi were among the participants of the meeting, the statement said.
It added that relevant security forces were given instructions to firmly contain the situation at any prison.
“The Higher Relief Commission was tasked with rehabilitating the Roumieh Prison.”
“The General Inspectorate of the ISF was appointed to remain in contact the families of the Roumieh Prison inmates.”
The members of the meeting also agreed on setting up a complaint office in the prison as well as to build a court room near the Roumieh compound in order to speed up the detainees’ trials, the statement said.
It added that they also agreed on quickly deporting foreign inmates to their countries in coordination with relevant authorities.
Security forces stormed Roumieh Prison on Tuesday after talks failed to secure the release of three guards detained by inmates who have been demanding an amnesty and better conditions.