Reports: At least 3 lawyers killed in Mexican prison hostage-taking

Saturday, November 18th 2006, 7:42 pm

By: News On 6

MEXICO CITY (AP) At least three of 10 lawyers being held hostage by inmates were killed Saturday after police raided the prison in central Mexico to try to rescue them, Mexican media reported.

It was not immediately clear whether the lawyers were killed by inmates or police during the raid which ended in a shootout.

El Universal newspaper and the government news agency Notimex reported that a prisoner was killed in addition to the three lawyers.

It was not immediately known whether Mexican police had regained control of the Mil Cumbres prison in Morelia in Michoacan state, where four inmates took the group of lawyers hostage Friday after being sentenced.

The Michoacan state attorney general's office could not be reached for comment Saturday.

The Mil Cumbres prison holds 2,000 prisoners, 60 of whom are considered highly dangerous, Notimex reported.