Forty escape prison in N. Sumatra

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Some 40 inmates escaped prison in Labuhan Deli, about 30 km south of the North Sumatra capital of Medan, Sunday morning, leaving behind four warders wounded.

Mintarjo, an official at the provincial office of justice, was quoted by Antara as saying here on Monday the four warders -- Budiman, Asmar Sagala, Hasiholan and M. Yusup -- had been given medical treatment.

The jailbreak began Sunday morning when some of the inmates wanted to attend mass. As the room required was at the time occupied, the warders asked them to leave.

The prisoners balked and instead attacked the warders. Then, they loosened some roof tiles and made their way out to the street, which is only 50 meters away.

Mintarjo said 10 of the inmates had been recaptured, while another surrendered. The rest were still at large.