At least 21 prisoners were killed and 11 others injured on Monday in a conflict between rival gangs in prison in the border city of Reynosa in northeastern Mexico, local authorities said.

Relatives of inmates scuffle with state police agents outside a prison facility in the border city of Reynosa, northern Mexico October 20, 2008. At least 21 prisoners died in a jail riot in Mexico near the Texas border on Monday when inmates from rival gangs staged a gun battle and set fire to the building.[Xinhua/Reuters]

 

The riot first broke out in the early hours due to disputes between different prisoner gangs, local officials said.

The inmates started a gun battle, attacked each other with knives and set fire to a building during the clash. Some victims apparently were burned to death.

Earlier information said at least 15 were killed in the riot.

Ives Soberon Tijerina, police chief for the local Tamaulipas state, told Mexican radio the death toll had risen to 21.

He said the injured, eight of whom were in critical conditions, were receiving medical treatment in the hospitals in Reynosa, where Mexico shares a border with the US state of Texas.

Soldiers and policemen have quelled the riot and surrounded the prison to prevent further violence.

Soldiers prepare to storm a prison in the border city of Reynosa, northern Mexico October 20, 2008. At least 21 prisoners died in a jail riot in Mexico near the Texas border on Monday when inmates from rival gangs staged a gun battle and set fire to the building. [Xinhua/Reuters]

On October 9, 17 inmates escaped from the prison, which has 2,200 prisoners but was designed for only 1,800, to be guarded by four jailors.