Syrian authorities said on Sunday they had restored order at a military jail near Damascus after a riot during which an opposition group said dozens of prisoners were killed.The riot broke out on Saturday at Sidnaya prison, a huge complex 30km northwest of the capital that houses thousands of criminals, political prisoners and soldiers convicted of violating military rules. 'Several prisoners convicted of extremism and terror crimes created chaos ... the issue required the interference of anti-riot units to restore calm,' the state news agency said.
It did not say whether there were any casualties. 'A security force unit immediately took action to remedy the situation and restore calm in the prison,' it added.