Brawl in Guatemala prison leaves 16 dead

A brawl in a notorious Guatemala prison has left 16 people dead, officials said.

Three inmates were decapitated as fights broke out between rival gangs in the jail, which is known as the Canada Rehabilitation Farm.

Prison spokesman Rudy Esquivel said violence erupted between members of the Mara 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs.

Some were armed with AK-47 rifles but it is unclear how they got hold of the guns.

Police, soldiers and firefighters were sent in to restore order after gunfire broke out on Sunday.

Mr Esquivel said: "All the dead are prisoners, we have ruled out any guards among the dead."

Inmates' relatives reportedly wailed outside the jail and some fainted as bodies were carried out in black plastic bags bound for the morgue.

More than 3,000 prisoners are held at the prison which is meant to house just 600.

The clash is the latest in a string of deadly prison riots in the Central American country.

There have also been shootouts in court rooms after fights between rival gangs have broken out.