Honduras military takes over prisons after dozens die in riot

Members of the Military Police of Public Order stand guard as they present bullets, magazines and weapons, seized at Tamara prison after the Honduras Armed Forces took over the control of the prisons nationwide as part of the "Fe y Esperanza" operation, on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduras June 26, 2023. REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras' military began taking control of the country's violent prisons on Monday, following a gang dispute that left 46 inmates dead at a women's detention center last week, officials said.

Leftist President Xiomara Castro announced last week she would hand the military police control of the prison system, a departure from a past stance of demilitarizing security, as her administration seeks to stop organized crime activity inside prisons.