Posted on 04/22/2011 10:01:03 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
One soldier and one gunman are dead following a fierce battle between alleged members of the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas in Miguel Aleman early Thursday morning.
Mexico's Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) confirmed the deaths during a statement released Thursday evening.
SEDENA officials reported that a battle between former allies the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas erupted around 5 a.m. Thursday.
Several businesses and other buildings were burned and damaged during the firefight.
Soldiers were deployed to the area to fight both groups of armed men.
One of the groups fled towards Ciudad Mier while the other stayed to fight soldiers.
SEDENA officials reported that one soldier and one gunman were killed during the battle.
Authorities reported that soldiers arrested 10 men and one woman at the scene. One of the men was reportedly wounded.
Neither the names of the slain soldier nor the slain gunman nor those arrested were released.
Authorities reported that soldiers seized 20 assault rifles, grenades, ammunition and four vehciles at the scene.
SEDENA officials said that Mexican President Felipe Calderon has extended his condolences to the soldier's family.
Mexican authorities also thanked area residents for using Twitter and other social media to report the battle.
Photos and video of the aftermath were ciruculated on YouTube as well as the Fonteras Unidas blog.
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