POLICE SHOT DEAD FIVE ALLEGED DRUG GANG MEMBERS IN A SHOOTOUT IN A RIO DE JANEIRO SHANTYTOWN EARLY SATURDAY, AUTHORITIES SAID, REPORTED BY AP. A DRUG LORD KNOWN AS MAGRAO WAS AMONG THE KILLED, SAID POLICE SPOKESMAN LT. COL. ARISTEU LEONARDO. AUTHORITIES SAID OFFICERS PATROLLING STREETS NEAR THE PARA-PEDRO SHANTYTOWN IN RIO'S NORTH SIDE WERE FIRST ATTACKED BY ARMED GANG MEMBERS. POLICE RAIDED THE SLUM AND THE SHOOTOUT ENSUED. NO ONE ELSE WAS REPORTEDLY WOUNDED IN THE SHOOTOUT. EARLIER IN THE WEEK, GUN BATTLES BETWEEN GANGS VYING FOR CONTROL OF THE CITY'S LUCRATIVE DRUG TRADE KILLED AT LEAST 19 PEOPLE. THE VIOLENCE FORCED POLICE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THREE DENSELY POPULATED SLUMS TO AVERT AN ALL-OUT GANG WAR IN THE HILLSIDE SHANTYTOWNS OVERLOOKING RIO'S FAMED BEACHES.
