15 killed in Mexico armed clashes

Mexico City, October 16

At least 15 people were killed in a gunfight between Mexican military and armed men in the southern state of Guerrero, authorities said.

The shootout occurred on Tuesday after local police received an emergency call which reported the presence of a group of armed men in the community of Tepochica in the municipality of Iguala, according to a report released by Roberto Alvarez Heredia, security spokesperson for Guerrero state, reported Xinhua news agency.

The report indicated that the armed men attacked the military and then a conflict broke out.

The incident took place just one day after armed assailants killed at least 13 police officers in an ambush in Aguililla, a town in west-central Michoacan state.

Guerrero is one of the states in Mexico with high rates of violence and drug trafficking activities, and more than 20 armed groups operate in the state, including community police, self-defence groups and drug cartels, according to Mexican government reports. IANS