Around 100 Yala Provincial Prison inmates rioted yesterday after an alleged assault on an inmate by three guards.

Prison property was destroyed in the two-hour riot. Offices were set alight and a canteen and cells destroyed. Police and soldiers were called to the prison.

Provincial governor Bunyasit Suwanarat promised to transfer three guards accused of badly beating an inmate. The allegations would be investigated.

There were no injuries during the riot, he said.

Bunyasit announced: "The situation is now under control and prisoners have begun cleaning up and putting things in order."

Prisoners ended the riot after authorities agreed to transfer the guards and allow Muslim inmates to cook their own meals during the holy month of Ramadan and observe religious practices.

Prison commander Somnuek Phongphet said an initial investigation indicated the guards had abused their authority and assaulted an inmate without provocation.

This occurred during a cell search.

There was no information about the condition of the unidentified victim.

The prison houses about 600. Just 100 were involved in the riot.

The governor said the protest had nothing to do with the insurgency in the deep South and was not a "copycat" episode of the riot at a youth detention centre in Nakhon Si Thammarat last week.