Shootout in Mexico's Sinaloa state kills 19, local cartel leader arrested

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -A shootout near the capital of Mexico's Sinaloa state killed 19 suspected gang members, while one local cartel leader was arrested, Mexico's defense ministry said on Tuesday, as intra-cartel violence intensifies.

The deadly altercation on Monday took place about 7 miles (11 km) outside the Sinaloa capital of Culiacan, when a group of more than 30 gunmen fired on soldiers, according to a statement from the ministry. It added that some of the suspected cartel gunmen fled the scene after federal agents returned fire.