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Ten Mexican police die in ambush Dozens killed in Mexico violence
(about 2 hours later)
Federal police guard the hospital where wounded colleagues were takenFederal police guard the hospital where wounded colleagues were taken
Ten Mexican federal police officers have been killed in an ambush in the western state of Michoacan. At least 27 people have been killed in Mexico in another day of apparent drug-related violence.
A convoy of police vehicles was trapped and machine-gunned at a roadblock outside a school in the town of Zitacuaro, officials said. Ten federal police officers were killed in an ambush by suspected drug cartel gunmen in the western state of Michoacan.
Some of the gunmen are also reported to have been killed. Michoacan is the headquarters of La Familia, one of Mexico's most violent drugs gangs. And in the north-western state of Sinaloa, a clash between rival gangs in a prison left 17 inmates dead.
Security forces pursued the attackers, and further clashes were reported. Both states are home to drugs gangs that have been fighting turf wars as well as battling the security forces.
At least 23,000 people have been killed in drug related violence in Mexico since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon ordered the army and federal police to combat the cartels. The ambush in Michoacan hit a federal police convoy as it was returning to Mexico City, officials said.
Gunmen blocked the road with trucks and machine-gunned the police vehicles outside a school in the town of Zitacuaro.
Police say they killed and wounded some of the attackers, who fled, taking their casualties with them.
Michoacan is the headquarters of La Familia, one of Mexico's most violent drugs gangs.
Last year the cartel was blamed for the murder of 12 federal agents, whose tortured bodies were dumped on a highway in Michoacan.
Prison slaughter
The prison killings happened in Mazatlan in north-western Sinaloa state, which has also been a focus of drugs related violence.
All 17 victims were shot dead, and two police guards were also wounded.
The authorities have regained control of the jail, seizing an assault rifle and two pistols.
Local media reports said some of the victims belonged to the Zetas drug gang, which has been fighting the Sinaloa cartel for control of smuggling routes.
At least 23,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon ordered the army and federal police to combat the cartels.
Most of the dead have been traffickers and police.Most of the dead have been traffickers and police.
Bloody battleground On Friday, nearly 40 people were killed in two separate attacks blamed on drugs gangs - one in Ciudad Juarez on the US border, the other in Ciudad Madero in north-eastern Tamaulipas state.
On Friday, nearly 40 people were killed in two separate attacks blamed on drugs gangs, one in Ciudad Juarez on the US border, the other in Ciudad Madero in north-eastern Tamaulipas state.
Michoacan - Mr Calderon's home state - is a battleground between the security forces, La Familia and other gangs fighting for control of drug trafficking routes.
In 2009, the tortured bodies of 12 federal agents were found dumped along a highway in Michoacan, in one of the worst attacks on government forces.