The Nation : Prisoners Agree to End Oklahoma Siege

About 20 inmates in the medium-security Mack Alford Correctional Center in Stringtown, Okla., agreed early today to peacefully end their 3-day-old prison uprising after authorities said the surrender could be televised. Late Sunday, the inmates released prison Capt. Lewis McGee, one of three guards they were holding hostage, authorities said. The inmates, whose rebellion began late Friday and resulted in $2.5 million in damages, agreed to surrender at 8:30 a.m. (CDT) today if the surrender is televised, Warden Ted Wallman said through a spokesman. Prison officials agreed to that demand. McGee was released in exchange for food and a meeting with three state legislators, officials said. “We gave them some pop, ice cream and cigarettes, and they talked to some legislators,” department spokeswoman Joy Hadwiger said.