RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and at least four others injured in a shootout between police and drug dealers in a Rio de Janeiro shantytown, local police said Friday.

　　A local resident identified as a taxi-driver and two drug dealers were killed in the clashes that started Thursday night and lasted into Friday morning.

　　The shooting first broke out between two rival gangs trying to take control of drug business in the Vigario Geral slum area before police arrived in the early morning of Friday.

　　The police managed to bring the situation under control several hours later.

　　The Linha Vermelha expressway, one of the most important road links in the city, was shut down for 20 minutes and the Saracuruna railway, which passes through Vigario Geral, was closed for four hours, affecting thousands during the morning rush hour.

　　Several families in Vigario Geral have left their homes fearing more shootings.