12 drug agents killed in Mexico

Twelve people tortured and killed in a cartel-plagued Mexican state were federal agents investigating organised crime, the government said, marking one of the boldest attacks on federal forces since President Felipe Calderon launched his war on drugs.

Mexico’s national security spokesman, Monte Alejandro Rubido, said the 11 men and one woman were off duty when they were ambushed and abducted by members of the La Familia drug cartel in Mr Calderon’s home state of Michoacan, which has been a centre of his crackdown on drug traffickers.