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Prison conflict leads to 17 fatalities

July 27, 2011

There are 17 people dead in Mexico as a result of a recent prison conflict in Ciudad Juarez.

A spokesperson for the facility has stressed that it was not an attempted breakout, with the fatalities occurring as a result of a fight between rival gangs.

In addition to the deaths, four people were injured in the conflict, as weapons seized from guards were used by inmates to attack their rivals.

"Clashes between rival gangs who fight over the local drug business and trafficking routes into the US are a frequent occurrence in the streets of Juarez," explained BBC correspondent Julian Miglierini.

He pointed out that the city accounts for about 20 per cent of Mexico's drug-related deaths.

It took guards several hours to regain control of the Social Rehabilitation Centre for Adults, which is commonly referred to as El Cereso.

According to Xinhua, the fight took place between members of the Aztecas and Mexicles gangs.