Rio police kill three suspected drug traffickers

Police have killed three suspected drug traffickers and injured one in a shootout in a northern Rio de Janeiro slum.

Among those killed was Carlos Eduardo Santos Mariano, known as Duda Malvado, or 'mean Duda'.

He is accused of having killed a policeman.

Local police officer Flavio Silva said: "Police were doing a routine patrol in the Morro do Turano slum when the bandits opened fire.

"The area is one of constant problems with drug traffickers."

A 16-year-old boy was injured in the foot and treated in a nearby hospital, but police couldn't say whether he was involved in the shootout.

Police found three guns, ammunition and some small amounts of cocaine and marijuana during the operation.