Clashes between security forces and suspected cartel members in Mexico over the weekend left at least 20 people dead.
The fighting started Saturday, when armed gunmen attacked Villa Union, a town near the Texas border. Fourteen gunmen and four police officers were later killed in shootouts over Saturday and Sunday. The Coahuila state government said two unarmed civilians were also killed.
The violence happened just days after President Donald Trump said he wanted to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador responded by saying he welcomes American cooperation but rejects any intrusion into Mexico. For his part, López Obrador is trying to move Mexico away from a military campaign against drug networks. He calls for addressing the root causes of violence in Mexico by curbing poverty and creating jobs while combating drug addiction.
Mexican security forces are still looking for more gunmen who are suspected of taking part in the Villa Union attack. Coahuila government officials say altogether there were more than 60 cartel members in the town on Saturday.
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
