Twelve inmates killed in prison shootout near Panama City

At least 12 people werekilledand another 13 were injured during ashootoutamonginmatesat a jailnearPanamaCityon Tuesday, officials said.

Police said they seized several guns in the incident at La Joyitaprison, 16 miles (25 km) east of the capital, including five handguns and three long-barrelled firearms.

President Laurentino Cortizo, who took office in July, said the incident suggested jail guards helped smuggle in the weapons.

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"These firearms didn't fall out of the sky, there was obviously some type of cooperation there for firearms to be brought in," he said in a statement.

Police official Alexis Munoz said the shooting originated from within the jail, whereinmatesare grouped according to gang affiliations to avoid confrontations, and that the cause was being investigated.