Mexico City  - An estimated 152 bystanders, including more than 40 children, were killed this year in Mexico's ongoing drug wars, the Mexican daily El Universal reported Monday.

The deaths of men, women and children - who had no links to the drug gangs - were caused by stray bullets and attacks by both criminals and security forces, the report said.

Between January and September, at least 3,391 people - including alleged criminals, police and military officers and innocent bystanders - were killed in Mexico's drug wars, most of them a result of revenge attacks between drug cartels.

This was substantially higher than the toll last year of 2,600 people. (dpa)