26 September 2012 Last updated at 16:15 ET

Ten Mexican 'gang members' killed in Guerrero state gun battle


The army has taken a leading role in Mexico's war on drugs

At least 10 people have been killed in a gun battle between a heavily armed criminal gang and the army, authorities in southern Mexico say.

It is not clear how the confrontation began, but police in Guerrero state say the troops pursued the group into a local church where they had sought refuge.

Ten suspected gang members were killed and their weapons seized.
Reports say an army officer was one of those killed in the clashes.
The clashes happened in early on Wednesday in the town of Tepecoacuilco.

The bodies of nine men and a woman were taken to a mortuary in a nearby city.

Twelve weapons were found with the group, including five AK-47 and five AR-15 assault rifles.

There is no indication that the alleged criminals were associated to any of Mexico's powerful drug gangs.

But Guerrero state has been a focus of the drugs-related violence that has killed more than 55,000 people since President Felipe Calderon deployed the army to fight the cartels in 2006.

Its largest city is the seaside resort of Acapulco, where the tourism industry has suffered with the violence in the region.

BBC News - Ten Mexican 'gang members' killed in Guerrero state gun battle