Government troops kill 8 gunmen in northern Mexico

At least eight gunmen were killed in a clash between government troops and an armed group in a mountainous area of northern Chihuahua state, the authorities said on Thursday.

Jose Reyes Baeza Terrazas, Chihuahua state governor, said the clash, involving hundreds of soldiers and some 50 gunmen, occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the rural area of Madera municipality.

It began after the soldiers found a camp where the gunmen were hiding and captured many of their weapons and equipments.

It was still unknown whether the gunmen belong to a criminal organization as most of them had escaped.

Mexico's northern part has seen a surge in violence in recent months.

Source: Xinhua