Seven dead in Mexico shoot-out

Seven people were killed and eight injured in a shoot-out between soldiers and suspected drug dealers in Mexico while one of the most wanted drug bosses was arrested, dpa reported.

The fighting erupted late Monday in the town of Panuco in Veracruz state by the Gulf of Mexico.

The soldiers were attacked as they attempted to carry out a house search, authorities said.

One soldier and six suspected criminals were killed in the shoot-out that lasted 12 hours.

In another incident, police arrested a man who is allegedly one of Mexico's main drug bosses, the state prosecutor said in Mexico City on Monday.

Edgar Valdez Villarreal is thought to have taken over the Beltran Leyva drug cartel at the end of last year after security forces shot dead its previous leader.

Police did not supply any details of the arrest.