<p>Seven prisoners died in western Afghanistan after they swallowed "poisonous" pills stolen from the jail's clinic during a riot, officials said on Thursday.</p>.<p>Clashes broke out on Wednesday night when prison officers launched a search operation to confiscate drugs and knives from cells at the prison in Herat, Jailani Farhad, spokesman to Herat provincial governor told AFP.</p>.<p>"The prisoners resisted the search operation after which riots erupted," Farhad said.</p>.<p>"One of the prisoners was killed in direct police fire while seven others swallowed poisonous pills confiscated from inside the jail's clinic and they died."</p>.<p>Thirteen others were wounded during the clashes that ended in the early hours of Thursday, he said.</p>.<p>Several large Afghan jails have clinics for regular treatment of prisoners and often stock sedatives, especially for treating prisoners who are drug addicts.</p>.<p>About 2,500 prisoners are being held in Herat jail, Farhad said.</p>.<p>Rafiq Shirzai, spokesman to Herat provincial health directorate confirmed the incident and death toll.</p>.<p>Clashes between prisoners and security forces are frequent in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>In August, dozens of prisoners were killed and hundreds managed to escape when Islamic State gunmen attacked a prison in the eastern city of Jalalabad.</p>
<p>Seven prisoners died in western Afghanistan after they swallowed "poisonous" pills stolen from the jail's clinic during a riot, officials said on Thursday.</p>.<p>Clashes broke out on Wednesday night when prison officers launched a search operation to confiscate drugs and knives from cells at the prison in Herat, Jailani Farhad, spokesman to Herat provincial governor told AFP.</p>.<p>"The prisoners resisted the search operation after which riots erupted," Farhad said.</p>.<p>"One of the prisoners was killed in direct police fire while seven others swallowed poisonous pills confiscated from inside the jail's clinic and they died."</p>.<p>Thirteen others were wounded during the clashes that ended in the early hours of Thursday, he said.</p>.<p>Several large Afghan jails have clinics for regular treatment of prisoners and often stock sedatives, especially for treating prisoners who are drug addicts.</p>.<p>About 2,500 prisoners are being held in Herat jail, Farhad said.</p>.<p>Rafiq Shirzai, spokesman to Herat provincial health directorate confirmed the incident and death toll.</p>.<p>Clashes between prisoners and security forces are frequent in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>In August, dozens of prisoners were killed and hundreds managed to escape when Islamic State gunmen attacked a prison in the eastern city of Jalalabad.</p>