In Ecuador, at least 75 inmates have been killed in simultaneous fights in three jails. There are reports that a number of police officers were also injured.

According to media reports, the military and riot police have been deployed in an effort to quell the violence which started yesterday.

Some media reports say that the fights were prompted by a battle for control of the jails after a gang leader was killed in December.

President Lenín Moreno said, reinforcements had been sent to all three prisons to restore the situation.

According to the head of the Ecuadorian prison system, the three jails hold 70 per cent of the country’s prisoners.