Mexican gunmen kill drug patients

By Duncan Kennedy
BBC News, Mexico city

Gunmen have killed eight patients and injured six others in a drug rehabilitation centre in Mexico.

The shootings are believed to be part of a drug gang feud in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez.

The hooded gunmen, all wearing body armour, burst into the drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation centre, dragged the patients to the patio and shot them.

About 40 people have been killed in drug cartel-related violence in the city this week.

The gunmen stormed the centre on Wednesday night and ordered the patients onto the floor.

Several men were then picked out, taken to the back patio and shot.

One eyewitnesses said he ran out of the building with a three-year-old boy in his arms after the firing began.

Police say the attack is believed to be part of a drug-gang feud.

It takes the total number of deaths in Ciudad Juarez this year to 795 - making it the front line in Mexico's wars between drugs cartels.

About 2,000 people - including hundreds of police officers - have died this year as the cartels fight for control of the drugs trade with the US.