Twenty-six killed in prison riot

A fire during a prison riot in the northern Chilean city of Iquique has left 26 inmates dead.

Radio Cooperativa of Santiago has reported police used tear gas to disperse the relatives of inmates who tried to enter the prison.

A government spokesman says the situation is now under control. It is not known what triggered the violence.

Regional governor Patricio Zapata said: "The mutinous inmates set mattresses and blankets on fire and we now lament the deaths of 26 people.

"The reasons for the violence are not clear and we have ordered an investigation."