Authorities and gunmen clash; 3 killed

Mexican troops and police shot dead three suspected drug hitmen armed with grenades in a fierce gun battle near the U.S. border, witnesses and local media said.

Soldiers fought about 20 armed men who attacked them with grenades after a search of a suspected drug safe house in Rio Bravo, across the border from McAllen, Texas, witnesses said.

Mexican media said three gunmen died in the battle and eight soldiers and policemen were injured. Earlier, local media had reported at least one policeman was killed.

“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.