Ecuador's Minister of Government (Interior), Alexandra Vela, told a press conference in Quito on Friday that these additional policemen and troops will 'guarantee security' in all the prisons in the country.

"The government keeps 3600 members of the National Police and the Armed Forces permanently mobilized in all prisons across Ecuador to ensure security in those facilities," Alexandra Vela said.

Troops deployed to riot-hit Guayaquil prison to bring situation under control. Courtesy: Twitter/Fiscalía Ecuador (Ecuador Prosecutor's Office)

Earlier on Tuesday, inmates belonging to two rival drug gangs equipped with firearms, grenades and sharp weapons engaged in a clash with each other at Litoral Penitentiary in the coastal city of Guayaquil.

Related article: 29 inmates killed, 42 injured in Ecuador prison riot: Officials

Ecuador's prison service stated that police, prison guards and military had launched a joint operation, and took nearly five hours to regain control of the regional prison.

Police, Military carrying out search ops inside Ecuador's Guayaquil prison. Courtesy: Twitter/Policía Ecuador (Ecuador National Police)

Guayaquil penitentiary clash, one of the deadliest inmate riots in South American history, killed 118 prisoners and left 79 others injured, and forced Ecuador president Guillermo Lasso to declare a state of emergency in the country's prison system.

Related article: Ecuador penitentiary riot: Death count passes 100, president declares prison emergency

Ecuador Police said that during the intervention and search operation inside the jail, cops had seized many firearms, hundreds of ammunition, explosive devices, a large number of sharp bladed weapons, drugs and several other prohibited items.

The Ecuador Prosecutor's Office said it had begun an investigation into the bloody prison clash.