Soldiers hold a position during a gunfight in Acapulco, Mexico, Saturday, June 6, 2009. Soldiers fought for several hours with armed men holding hostages, who later claimed to be police officers.
Soldier Takes Cover
Mexican soldiers battled against heavily-armed men believed to be part of the Beltr
Kidnapped Officers?
Four men, who claimed to be kidnapped Guerrero state police officers, lie handcuffed on the floor of a home after a gunfight in Acapulco, Mexico, early Sunday, June 7, 2009. Their identities are still under investigation. Guerrero state, where Acapulco is located, has long suffered from drug violence from cartels fighting for turf.
Drug War
Soldiers survey a home where a gunfight took place Sunday, June 7, 2009. The battle erupted after soldiers received a tip that a group of armed men were gathered at a gated house in a seedy section of Acapulco where working-class homes bleed into 1950s mansions.
At The Ready
Police officials hold a position during a gunfight in Acapulco, Mexico, Saturday, June 6, 2009. Roughly 3,000 shots and 50 explosions marked the four-hour battle late Saturday that left 16 gunmen and two soldiers dead. Nine other people were wounded, including three bystanders.
Weapons Found
Seized weapons sit on the floor of a home after a gunfight in Acapulco, Mexico, early Sunday, June 7, 2009. Soldiers confiscated 47 guns, grenades and ammunition, as well as several cars, including a Mercedes Benz.
Famed Resort Town
The shootout between drug gangs and soldiers in Acapulco is a scary departure for a resort town famous for its pristine beaches and clear waters. Mexico's crackdown on drug cartels has left 10,800 dead since 2006, but the violence has rarely spilled into tourist areas.