Deadly stampede at Mexico disco

At least 12 people have died in a stampede during a police raid on a packed nightclub in Mexico City.

The capital's police chief said hundreds of youths marking the end of the school year had panicked when police raided the News Divine club.

He said there had been a stampede by customers trying to escape. Three police officers were among the dead.

Police said they had been investigating reports that drugs and alcohol were being sold to under-age clubbers.

At least 13 people were injured during the raid, police said.

Mexico City police chief Joel Ortega told Mexico's Televisa that the panic began when the club's owner announced that police officers were present.

Mr Ortega said the venue had a single entrance and an emergency exit, which was blocked by cases of beer.

"Many of the people concentrated at the club's emergency exit, but it was too small and it was there that people died of asphyxia," he said.

The police chief denied earlier reports in the media that police used tear gas.

At least 500 people were in the club at the time, officials believe.