2008-04-29 10:34:39
Mon Apr 28, 5:14 PM ET
Mexico's military posted soldiers around a major hospital Monday to guard
suspects wounded during weekend gunbattles that raged across Tijuana.
Two more deaths raised the toll to 15 from the pre-dawn Saturday shootouts in
the violence-plagued Mexican city across the U.S. border from San Diego, local
news media reported.
All of the dead were believed to be drug traffickers, possibly rival members of
the same drug cartel, Baja California state Attorney General Rommel Moreno
said.
He refused to specify the cartel. The Tijuana-based Arellano Felix gang has
been shaken by the arrests or deaths of many of its key leaders.
Police did not identify any of the dead or wounded.
In one of the shootouts, gunmen exchanged fire between sport utility vehicles
speeding down a six-lane boulevard in Tijuana.
The first shootout claimed seven victims. Three subsequent gunbattles one
outside a hospital claimed five more. Police said the body of the 13th victim
turned up at a city hospital, and local news media reported the deaths of two
others who were hospitalized.
The attorney general's office said eight suspects were being treated at the
heavily guarded hospital, and local newspapers said it canceled outpatient
services and laboratory work. Hospital officials could not be reached for
comment.
In 2007, gunmen opened fire on state police guarding the same hospital, where
gang members were being treated for gunshot wounds.
The suspects are being held on suspicion of weapons possession among other
possible charges.