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Mexico jail 'gang fight' kills 23 | Mexico jail 'gang fight' kills 23 |
(9 minutes later) | |
At least 23 inmates have been killed after a fight at a jail in Durango, northern Mexico, officials say. | |
Police believe the inmates were members of rival drugs gangs, Reuters news agency reported. | |
But prison spokeswoman Carla Puente was quoted by the Associated Press as saying she did not know the cause of the fighting. | But prison spokeswoman Carla Puente was quoted by the Associated Press as saying she did not know the cause of the fighting. |
Thousands of people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico over the past few years. | Thousands of people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico over the past few years. |
"There are 23 dead, all inmates," Durango army head General Moises Melo Garcia told Reuters. | "There are 23 dead, all inmates," Durango army head General Moises Melo Garcia told Reuters. |
He said the situation in the prison was "now back under control". | |
Ms Puente said some people had also been injured in the brawl, which was ended by prison guards and armed soldiers. | |
The prison was reported to house more than 2,000 inmates. | The prison was reported to house more than 2,000 inmates. |
War declared | War declared |
The state of Durango has been the scene of clashes between the rival Gulf and Sinaloa drug cartels in recent months. | The state of Durango has been the scene of clashes between the rival Gulf and Sinaloa drug cartels in recent months. |
The drugs trade in the region is controlled by the Sinaloa cartel, reportedly led by Mexico's most-wanted man, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. | The drugs trade in the region is controlled by the Sinaloa cartel, reportedly led by Mexico's most-wanted man, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. |
At least 19 inmates died in another prison brawl in Durango in August 2009, which officials said had been sparked by gang rivalries. | |
President Felipe Calderon has declared war on the illegal narcotic organisations in Mexico, deploying 40,000 troops to fight the cartels. | President Felipe Calderon has declared war on the illegal narcotic organisations in Mexico, deploying 40,000 troops to fight the cartels. |