7 officers, 4 gunmen killed in Mexico clash

A Mexican official says seven state police officers and four gunmen died in a clash in the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa.

An official with the Sinaloa state prosecutors office says the officers were traveling on a road near the town of El Fuerte when they were ambushed by a group of gunmen.

The official says the officers returned fire during the Monday attack, killing four assailants. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he not allowed to discuss an investigation in progress.

Local media reported that one of the dead gunmen is a lieutenant for the Beltran Leyva drug gang. The official wouldn't confirm that.

Sinaloa has seen a surge in violence as members of the Beltran Leyva fight their former allies in the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel.