8 March 2011 Last updated at 05:27 GMT
Mexico shootout leaves 18 dead in Tamaulipas state
At least 18 people have been killed in gunbattles between rival gangs in a north-eastern Mexican town, police say.
The Tamaulipas state government said the fighting took place in the town of Abasolo, but gave no further details.
Reports said groups of gunmen in trucks and other vehicles had exchanged fire around the town.
Tamaulipas has been at the centre of a turf war between the Gulf and Los Zetas cartels which are battling to control lucrative drug smuggling routes.
Mexican media says Abasolo has lacked a state police command post for several months.
Reports said Tamaulipas residents exchanged Twitter messages about Monday's shootings hours before the bloodshed was confirmed by the state government. Some tweets warned people to stay indoors.
Abasolo is an agricultural community about 100km (60 miles) from the state capital Ciudad Victoria and has a population of about 14,000.
BBC
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