20 Dead in Mexican Prison Riot

A prison riot in the violent Mexican border city of Matamoros has left at least 20 dead and 12 injured, reports the LA Times. The trouble started as a fight between two inmates, and quickly grew into a full-fledged riot. Officials are not saying what caused the fight or who was killed, however, the fight began at about 8am yesterday and lasted for two and a half hours before soldiers and Marines were able to control the situation.

Local news reports show helicopters flying over the prison as the military tried to restore order. Matamoros, located across the border from Brownsville, Texas, has been the center of some of the worst violence in Mexico's sprawling drug cartel wars, as cartels fight for control of the valuable smuggling routes in the area. (More Mexico stories.)