Child among dead in Rio drug raid

Locals fled for shelter when the violence began

Twelve people, including a young boy and an officer, were killed as police mounted an anti-drugs operation on a Rio de Janeiro slum, officials say.

Shooting broke out when some 500 police, backed by helicopters, entered the Senador Camara and Coreia shanty towns, searching for weapons and drugs.

The four-year-old child was hit in the chest by a stray bullet.

Among the dead were 10 suspected traffickers, and 11 suspected drug gang members were arrested, police said.

'Free rein'

Officers said they were greeted by gunfire when they entered the slums.

Television news footage showed a police helicopter flying over the area, and people running for cover as agents opened fire.

Human rights groups have accused police of using excessive force

"The security secretariat has free rein to act against drug traffickers," Rio state Governor Sergio Cabral told reporters as the raid was in progress.

In June, police were accused of killing 19 innocent people during a huge operation in the Alemao slum.

The authorities insisted their actions were justified to tackle the powerful drug gangs who control about half of Rio's 750 shanty towns.

However, human rights groups have accused Brazilian police of widespread corruption and violence, and say they routinely justify killing civilians by alleging they were drug gang members resisting arrest.