The Daily Star - New prison to be built in north's Deir Ammar - May 24, 2011

BEIRUT: The Interior Ministry has awarded a Lebanese company a contract to build a new prison facility in the northern town of Deir Ammar with construction expected to start immediately, the ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Internal Security Forces is negotiating between two locations for another prison facility in south Lebanon.

Following several recent riots in Roumieh prison over deteriorating prison conditions and overpopulation, the Parliament approved a proposal by caretaker Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud to build two more prisons in Lebanon.

Roumieh prison, Lebanon’s notorious and largest, located in the Metn area, was originally built to house 1,050 prisoners, but currently holds 3,700.

Two of the key demands of prisoners during the riots were speedy legal procedures and general amnesty. However, lawmakers have said that such demands require amendments to laws, which a caretaker government is unable to pass.