Loyalists staged a naked protest at a high-security Northern Ireland prison today over claims of intensified strip searches.
Warders were confronted by 18 prisoners totally unclothed when they unlocked the cells at Maghaberry Jail near Lisburn, Co Antrim.
The inmates took the action to highlight the inhumane conditions they have endured, their representatives said.
Frankie Gallagher of the Prisoners' Aid Networking Group claimed the authorities warned that up to four strip searches will be carried out five days a week in the jail.
"This regime is degrading and it goes against all the principles of their human rights," he added.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service, which has separated loyalists and republicans amid safety fears inside Maghaberry, insisted random inspections was standard and necessary for maintaining control.
Tensions at the jail flared again last week after a Scrabble board was left with a chilling message that it was time to kill a warder.
But loyalists being kept in the Bush House wing have reacted furiously to the ongoing checks.
"Prisoners have been informed by the Prison Service that the strip searches will now be intensified," claimed Mr Gallagher.
Ken Wilkinson, a spokesman for the Post Conflict Prisoners Support Group, which represents Ulster Volunteer Force inmates, was equally distressed.
Besides the strip searches, he expressed concern over alleged unhygienic eating conditions, lengthy lock-downs and poor access to fitness facilities for those held in the separated regime.
He said: "The prisoners in separate conditions are being discriminated against because they chose to go there on safety grounds."
A Prison Service spokesman refused to disclose the number of searches planned daily.
He stressed that when officers go into the cells it is common policy to examine the inmates as well.
"It would be unwise of us to tell prisoners in advance how many searches we plan to carry out," he said.
"This is random and done in the interests of security.
"It's certainly possible that a number of cells provided for both loyalists and republicans will be searched every day."
PA