At least seven soldiers and six prisoners were injured in the riot that broke out at the Central Prison in Yemen's western Hodeida Province on Monday.

Security sources told the Alsahwa website that more than 435 African inmates battled the guards of the jail when they tried to escape.

Some were seriously injured and taken to hospitals, the sources said.

The clashes were violent but the jail administration controlled the situation and is now investigating those involved in them, they added.

Independent sources said that the African inmates battled the guards fiercely in protest at ignoring their demand which was to deport them to their African countries.

The sources said the inmates started a hunger strike a month ago protesting their detention and urging to deport them.

The jail is home to 435 Africans including 208 Ethiopians, 153 Eritreans, 38 Nigerians, 30 from Niger and 5 Sudanese, Chadians, a Malian and a Djiboutian. Most of them were arrested at Yemeni coasts after they illegally entered the country.