An international footballer, who was kidnapped in Mexico, has been rescued, according to authorities in the country.

Mexican footballer Alan Pulido has been kidnapped in the country's northern border state of Tamaulipas.

The sprawling remains of Hurricane Alex has drenched much of northern Mexico, paralysing the major city of Monterrey.

Gunmen assassinated the front-running candidate for governor of a Mexican border state in what President Felipe Calderon called an attempt by drug gangs to sway local and state elections this weekend.