Three inmates die in riot

CANCUN, MEXICO (Dec 9, 2006)

More than 150 prisoners escaped from a state penitentiary in Cancun early yesterday after hundreds of inmates overpowered guards with knives and bats. Police quickly recaptured about half the men.

Guards shot and killed three inmates during the riot, said Red Cross official Ricardo Portugal, who received the bodies. Several prisoners and guards were wounded.

About 1,000 inmates attacked guards to stop the transfer of gang leader Marcos Gallegos to another penitentiary more than 320 kilometres to the south, said prison director Juvenal Reyes.

Police had captured 70 of the escaped prisoners and were searching for the rest, Reyes said.