Mexican army battles drug gang near U.S. border

Mon Jan 7, 2008 4:55 PM ET

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexican troops and police fought a fierce battle with suspected drug hitmen armed with grenades in a town near the U.S. border on Monday, and one police officer was killed, witnesses and Mexican media said.

Soldiers fought around 20 armed men after being attacked with grenades following a search of a suspected drug safe house in Rio Bravo, across the border from McAllen, Texas, witnesses told Reuters.

Mexican media said at least one policeman was killed.

Police confirmed the gun battle in Rio Bravo in the state of Tamaulipas but declined to give more details.

"The aggressors threw dozens of grenades and there was a lot of blood on the street. Some civilians were badly hurt and taken to hospital," said local journalist Ely Enriquez.

Many cities in the border area north of the industrial city of Monterrey are dominated by the powerful Gulf drug cartel and its armed wing, the Zetas.