- Title: MEXICO-VIOLENCE Thirteen dead in Mexico gang violence on eve of election
- Date: 7th June 2015
- Summary: BODY ON GROUND
- Embargoed: 22nd June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA85Y17UMJNSRGY2TMJUEA5FOA1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: ++WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES++
Election eve violence in Mexico's Guerrero state after rival vigilante gunmen opened fire on each other in the community of Xolapa killing more than a dozen people, according to the state's Human Rights Commission.
Local media reported the firefight happened on Saturday (June 06) afternoon after members of the United Front for the Security and Development of Guerrero vigilante group confronted former members that were expelled due to alleged involvement with the New Generation Jalisco Cartel.
Guerrero's Human Rights Commission put the death toll for the clashes at 13 and local investigators are scouring the scene for more bodies.
"There's is talk of eight dead. As you can see we don't have any (bodies), we're going on searching. The information from these people (locals) is that when these sort of things happen they collect the bodies and take them to their homes. We don't intervene," said this unidentified officer from Mexico's Public Ministry.
Guerrero is no stranger to violence. Not far from Xolapa is the city of Iguala where 43 trainee teachers were abducted last year in a feared student massacre allegedly involving corrupt police officers.
The gang shootout comes on election even in Mexico as President Enrique Pena Nieto's ruling party work to keep their slim majority in the Congress amidst growing discontent about corruption, gang violence and lacklustre economic growth. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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