Beirut - Prisoners at Lebanon's largest prison revolted Thursday, taking at least seven wardens hostage, Lebanese security sources said.

Negotiations were still under way with the inmates to secure the release of the wardens at Roumieh prison, an official source said.

"The chief of internal security is currently negotiating with the prisoners to try to secure what we can call the hostages' release before resorting to force," the source said.

The rioters were Lebanese and Palestinian.

The mutiny started when some prisoners set fire to cells in the block holding convicted inmates.

Four senior security officials arrested on suspicion of involvement in the 2005 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri are presently interned in Roumieh.

Jihad Hamad, one of the prime suspects in Germany's 2006 train- bombing plot, is also imprisoned there. (dpa)