Northern Mexico shootouts kill 14 alleged gang members

 A series of clashes between the Mexican army and armed gangs in the border city of Reynosa left 14 alleged gang members dead and one soldier injured on Friday, according to local press reports.

The daily "El Manana de Reynosa" reported that army troops engaged in two shoot-outs in the neighborhoods of Fuentes Seccion Lomas and Villa Esmeralda, across the U.S. border from McAllen, Texas.

The newspaper claimed federal forces killed 12 people in the first clash, with neighbors reporting four bodies on a street, six in a vehicle and two more in a house.

The same media reported two gang members were gunned down in a street of Villa Esmeralda.

The governor of Tamaulipas, Francisco Cabeza de Vaca, confirmed on Twitter that federal forces had carried out operations in Reynosa, the state's largest city, to "restore peace and the rule of law." He did not confirm any casualties.

Until now, no official confirmation has been given by the army or the Ministry of Defense. However, an army official spoke to Xinhua, on condition of anonymity, to confirm that the operation sought to arrest a leader of the Gulf cartel, known as "Comandante Toro."

Furthermore, the source said that one soldier was injured in the clashes.

source: Xinhua