Police row over Mexican jail riot

27 July 2011 Last updated at 23:49 GMT The authorities are back in control of the prison Police in one of Mexico's most violent cities, Ciudad Juarez, have accused federal colleagues of firing at them during a deadly prison riot.

City police chief Julian Leyzaola told reporters his armoured vehicle had been shot at by up to 16 federal police officers as he approached the jail.

But the federal government accused him of breaking through a cordon.

Seventeen people died when one group of inmates reportedly attacked rivals from another drug gang inside the jail.

A spokesman for the city's authorities told the BBC the attackers had used weapons seized from prison guards to carry out the massacre on Monday night.

Further revelations on Wednesday suggested weakness, disorganisation and possible corruption at the jail close to the US border.

It took security forces several hours to regain control.

'Third clash'

"I saw a federal officer in front of my sport utility vehicle firing at me and in turning to a side, there was a group of between 10 and 15 federal officers firing at my vehicle," said Mr Leyzaola, who was uninjured.

In response, the federal public safety department issued a statement to say federal police had opened fire because Mr Leyzaola had refused to stop and identify himself.

"During an operation to prevent an escape of prisoners, he broke through the security cordon and, acting against security protocol, went through a checkpoint without stopping," the statement said.

"And for this reason his vehicle was fired upon to make it stop."

When the authorities finally regained control of the prison, they found 17 people dead, two inmates with gunshot wounds and 72 others with lesser injuries.

It is believed to be the third clash between federal and local police in the city since the start of the year.

Damning video This police detective was running for cover during the operation

Federal police added that two females, including a woman killed in the fighting, were found inside the prison.

Local TV footage seen by the Associated Press news agency suggests guards may have actually allowed the bloodbath to happen.

The footage reportedly shows hooded, armed inmates talking with guards, who then leave the area before inmates grab cell keys, open a door and apparently fire on those inside with a machine pistol and an assault rifle.

Julio Cesar Castaneda, a spokesman for the Chihuahua state prosecutor's office, said it was investigating reports that even more women had entered the prison for a party held by members of one of the city's street gangs, and that most had left after the fight.

The office was also investigating reports that some prison employees may have attended the party.

Federal security spokesman Alejandro Poire called for changes at the city-run prison, saying security at state and local jails across Mexico should be "reviewed and strengthened".

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Ecuador protest police convicted

28 June 2011 Last updated at 21:08 GMT Police protested in a number of Ecuadorian cities in September against plans to cut their bonuses A court in Ecuador has found six police officers guilty of crimes against the security of the state, during a protest last September in which the president was forcibly detained.

President Rafael Correa had to be rescued by the military after being tear-gassed and held for several hours in a hospital by police angry about plans to cut their bonuses.

He described the events as an attempted coup.

The six men will be sentenced later.

They include the former head of security for Ecuador's congress, Colonel Rolando Tapia.

President Correa vowed to purge the police and punish those responsible after the dramatic events of 30 September last year.

Images of the unrest were beamed around the world amid widespread fears that Ecuador could be witnessing a coup attempt, not merely a protest by the police and parts of the military.

The country has faced a number of coups and coup attempts in its turbulent political past.

Defiant address

Events turned violent after thousands of police launched a series of protests across the country, refusing to patrol the streets, blocking roads and seizing control of their barracks.

They were demonstrating against cuts to their benefits imposed by a public spending law, which had been passed as part of a government austerity drive.

Mr Correa, who had made an emotional and defiant address at a barracks in the capital, Quito, was jostled by protesters and then stunned when a tear gas canister was fired near his head.

In the subsequent confusion, he was rushed to a police hospital, supposedly for treatment, but then not allowed to leave.

Meanwhile, a contingent of troops took control of Quito's international airport, in a parallel demonstration against the cuts.

The head of the armed forces pledged his support to Mr Correa, and loyalist troops stormed the police hospital where he was being held.

In the gunfight that followed, a number of people were killed, but Mr Correa was rescued and taken to the presidential palace, where he addressed jubilant supporters.

The police chief resigned in the wake of the uprising, and was replaced the next day.

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Brazilian police occupy Rio slum

20 June 2011 Last updated at 01:02 GMT Most of Mangueira's residents were said to have co-operated with the operation Brazilian security forces have occupied one of Rio de Janeiro's biggest slums as part of a major crackdown ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

Some 800 police and special forces moved into the Mangueira shantytown, without needing to fire a shot, having announced the raid in advance.

The slum - or favela - is close to Rio's famous Maracana stadium, where the World Cup final will be played.

The pre-dawn operation involved armoured vehicles and helicopters.

According to the newspaper, O Globo, leaflets were thrown out of the helicopters, some with photos of wanted criminals.

Others were printed with the police special forces' telephone number so that residents could pass on information about drugs traffickers or weapons.

BBC Brazil correspondent Paulo Cabral says most of Mangueira's residents co-operated with the operation, as they want to rid the area of drug dealers.

He says that Rio's authorities are making an effort to gain the trust of those living in the slums, who - after decades of abuse - have got used to seeing the police as their enemy.

Mangueira - home to one of Rio's most famous samba schools - is the 18th favela that the authorities have occupied recently.

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