19 February 2012 Last updated at 12:14 ETThe fight erupted overnight in the prison north of Monterrey, in Nuevo Leon state
At least 20 people have died in a prison riot in northern Mexico.

Security officials said the inmates had either forced or bribed a number of guards to open the doors between two separate wings of the jail.

A fight broke out between the prisoners, in which the killings occurred.

Deadly prison fights between rival gangs are not uncommon in Mexico, last month 31 inmates were killed in similar circumstances in Tamaulipas state.

Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Jorge Domene said inmates at the Apodaca prison had also set fire to mattresses and other flammable objects.

He said the security forces were now in control of the situation.

Relatives of the prisoners have gathered outside the prison, north of the city of Monterrey, to find out news about who has been killed and injured.

Mr Domene asked them to be patient.

"We have more than 3,000 inmates in this jail and we have to account for all of them first," he said.

Mexican jails are notorious for overcrowding, corruption and rioting.

In January, 31 inmates were killed at a prison in Altamira, in Tamaulipas state, when rival gangs confronted each other with homemade weapons and knives.



Article Source : BBC News

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