7 killed in clash in Mexican state of Sinaloa

MEXICO CITY –A soldier, an officer and five alleged bandits have been killed in a shootout in the state of Sinaloa in northwestern Mexico, police said.

Sinaloa state police spokesman Edmundo Apodaca said a clash between rival drug gangs erupted near the town of Choix early Saturday. The Mexican army and local police responded, trying to end the fight.

Apodaca told The Associated Press that the mountainous area in the Sierra Madre is known for having large groups of drug traffickers.

The state is the home base to Mexico’s most-wanted fugitive Joaquin Guzman, also known as El Chapo, who heads the head of the Sinaloa Cartel.