Four killed as police end Mexico jail standoff

MEXICO CITY, Nov 19 (Reuters) Four people were killed and six wounded during a police raid to end a two-day hostage crisis at a jail in the Mexican state of Michoacan.

Four armed inmates took 14 lawyers hostage on Friday after being sentenced to over 40 years each on kidnapping charges. By yesterday afternoon, the prisoners had freed seven hostages.

Later, one inmate and three hostages were killed in a shootout as police raided the Mil Cumbres jail in Michoacan's capital, Morelia, to rescue the remaining hostages.

''The situation is now under control,'' Michoacan state government spokesman Armando Machorro told radio station Monitor.

It was not clear whether the three hostages were killed by inmates or police.

The three other inmates and three hostages were being treated for wounds and none was reported in critical condition. A fourth hostage suffered a nervous breakdown, Machorro added.

REUTERS DKS PM0730