A raucous crowd attacked Uber drivers and their vehicles with clubs and stones outside the Mexico City airport, according to the company, as licensed taxi drivers demonstrated to demand a "total halt" to app-based rideshare services in the capital.

Video of the demonstration showed people throwing eggs and flour inside the windows of vehicles, kicking doors and trying to rip off side mirrors. One man destroyed a sedan's rear window with a large rock.

"What happened is a very grave attack on everyone's freedom and right to make a living in a dignified manner," Uber said. "Incidents like this are completely unacceptable and we trust that authorities will act so that justice is done."

Wednesday's attack and a taxi drivers' protest outside the Colombian embassy on Tuesday to proclaim solidarity with cabbies in that country and around the world are a clear signal that newly issued regulations designed to create a legal framework for Uber and the smaller Cabify have not put an end to Mexico City's simmering taxi dispute.

An Uber spokeswoman, Rocio Paniagua, told Televisa news that between 10 and 12 cars had been damaged in Tuesday's clashes. Some drivers were struck but there were no reports of serious injuries. She said taxi cabs had been used to block off the street but those who took part were not carrying anything to identify who they were.

At Wednesday's protest, leaders of the Organised Taxi Drivers of Mexico City union denied any involvement in the "regrettable" incident. They promised to pursue only legal avenues and said the attack had been carried out by people fed up with Uber drivers parking in their neighbourhood for airport pickups.

"They are decisions that the neighbors of the area made but we have nothing to do with it," said a union spokesman, Juan Carlos Rovira. "We say so categorically."

This month Mexico City became the first city in Latin America to set down official regulations for smartphone-based ride services such as Uber. They call for the companies to pay 1.5% of fares to a fund for improving transportation; require drivers to register and submit to annual inspections; and bar them from accepting cash or establishing the equivalent of taxi stands.

A raucous crowd attacked Uber drivers and their vehicles with clubs and stones outside the Mexico City airport, according to the company, as licensed taxi drivers demonstrated to demand a "total halt" to app-based rideshare services in the capital.