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| 'Boss of bosses' killed in Mexico | 'Boss of bosses' killed in Mexico |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| One of Mexico's most-wanted drug lords has been killed in a shoot-out with state security forces, officials say. | One of Mexico's most-wanted drug lords has been killed in a shoot-out with state security forces, officials say. |
| Arturo Beltran Leyva and four alleged members of his cartel died in a raid by troops on a flat in Cuernavaca, just south of Mexico City. | Arturo Beltran Leyva and four alleged members of his cartel died in a raid by troops on a flat in Cuernavaca, just south of Mexico City. |
| The Beltran Leyva cartel, based on the Pacific coast, is one of Mexico's most powerful and violent drug gangs . | The Beltran Leyva cartel, based on the Pacific coast, is one of Mexico's most powerful and violent drug gangs . |
| Meanwhile, the severed heads of six policemen were found near a church in the north of the country, police said. | Meanwhile, the severed heads of six policemen were found near a church in the north of the country, police said. |
| They said the beheadings in Durango state were a revenge attack by the Gulf cartel for the killing of 10 gang members last week. | They said the beheadings in Durango state were a revenge attack by the Gulf cartel for the killing of 10 gang members last week. |
| The severed heads, left in plastic bags outside the church before dawn, were discovered by garbage collectors, the state attorney general's office said. | The severed heads, left in plastic bags outside the church before dawn, were discovered by garbage collectors, the state attorney general's office said. |
| 'Boss of bosses' | 'Boss of bosses' |
| Arturo Beltran Leyva, known as the "boss of bosses", was one of five brothers who split from the Sinaloa cartel and aligned themselves with Los Zetas, a group of former soldiers hired by the Gulf Cartel as hit men. | |
| More than 200 soldiers were involved in the operation | More than 200 soldiers were involved in the operation |
| The split is believed to have fuelled much of the bloodshed across Mexico, where more than 14,000 people have died in drugs-related violence since 2006. | The split is believed to have fuelled much of the bloodshed across Mexico, where more than 14,000 people have died in drugs-related violence since 2006. |
| The Mexican government listed Beltran Leyva as one its 24 most-wanted drug traffickers and had offered a $2.3m (£1.4m) reward for his capture. | |
| A Navy statement described the gun battle in which Beltran Leyva was killed as "intense". It involved at least 200 members of Mexico's armed forces. | A Navy statement described the gun battle in which Beltran Leyva was killed as "intense". It involved at least 200 members of Mexico's armed forces. |
| Reports said three soldiers were injured by grenade fragments during the operation in Cuernavaca, a city of 350,000 that is a popular weekend retreat spot. | Reports said three soldiers were injured by grenade fragments during the operation in Cuernavaca, a city of 350,000 that is a popular weekend retreat spot. |
| An Associated Press reporter at the scene described hearing at least 10 explosions. | An Associated Press reporter at the scene described hearing at least 10 explosions. |
| During the gunbattle, sailors went door to door to evacuate residents of the upmarket residential complex, AP reported. | During the gunbattle, sailors went door to door to evacuate residents of the upmarket residential complex, AP reported. |
| Drug gangs 'weakening' | Drug gangs 'weakening' |
| Mexico's authorities are battling a wave of violence by drug gangs fighting over smuggling routes to the US. | Mexico's authorities are battling a wave of violence by drug gangs fighting over smuggling routes to the US. |
| The Obama administration delivered five helicopters to Mexico on Wednesday to help it in its fight. | The Obama administration delivered five helicopters to Mexico on Wednesday to help it in its fight. |
| Washington says the rising death toll is a sign the drug gangs are weakening under President Calderon's military crackdown, which has seen some 49,000 extra troops deploy across Mexico. | Washington says the rising death toll is a sign the drug gangs are weakening under President Calderon's military crackdown, which has seen some 49,000 extra troops deploy across Mexico. |