Tynchbek Akmatbayev was visiting a prison when he was shot

Security forces are instead stationed outside to ensure no prisoners escape, a justice ministry spokesman said.

MP Tynchbek Akmatbayev and two aides were shot dead on Thursday, after being taken hostage in Moldavanovka prison.

There are fears that further violence might be organised by criminal networks among the inmates.

But addressing an emergency parliamentary session on Friday, Prime Minister Felix Kulov said the situation in the prison had now "been normalised".

"The government is able to, and will, control the situation in the prison colonies," he told lawmakers.

Prisoner protests

Prisons service spokesman Sergei Sidorov told Reuters news agency: "During the night we ordered all staff and civilians working in our penitentiaries to leave."

There are more than 30 prisons in Kyrgyzstan affected by the ruling, with nearly 20,000 inmates. There have been frequent reports of bad living conditions in Kyrgyz prisons, and several protests have taken place inside jails in recent months.

KYRGYZ VIOLENCE 20 October: MP Tynchbek Akmatbayev and two aides shot dead during prison visit 22 September: MP and businessman Bayaman Erkinbayev shot dead 13 June: Security guards open fire on protesters in Osh, injuring at least seven 10 June: MP Jyrgalbek Surabaldiyev shot dead in Bishkek 1 June: Hundreds eject protesters from Supreme Court which they had held for more than a month

Akmatbayev and his aides were shot dead after being taken hostage during a visit to Moldavanovka prison, about 25km (15 miles) outside the capital, Bishkek.

The incident happened while the politician and his entourage were in the tuberculosis hospital attached to the prison, on a visit to assess living conditions.

The others who died are said to have been members of Akmatbayev's entourage. Prison service head Imatulla Polotov was also severely beaten by the inmates and is in serious condition.

The killer was later identified and turned over to the authorities by inmates, according to Russian news agencies.

The exact circumstances of the killings are still unclear, but some deputies say they may be related to criminal feuding, says the BBC's Central Asia correspondent, Ian MacWilliam. There are reports that Akmatbayev's brother was involved in a conflict with a criminal boss inside the prison.

But Mr Kulov said "there were no clear signs that this was a politically motivated murder".

He said Akmatbayev had violated jail rules by being armed during his visit.

The deaths came after two days of unrest at nearby Novopokrovka prison. Inmates there had been protesting about bad food, damp accommodation, inadequate clothing and a lack of hot water.

Akmatbayev was chairman of a parliamentary committee on security and policing, and had been involved in negotiations with prisoners at Novopokrovka.

Kyrgyzstan has witnessed several violent incidents since the overthrow of ex-President Askar Akayev in March.