Police ambush in Mexico

Police search the bullet-ridden truck

By Peter Greste in Mexico City

Seven police have been killed in an ambush in the southern state of Chiapas in Mexico.

According to the state government, unidentified gunmen attacked a patrol on a rural road on Monday morning.

The area where the attack took place is considered to be sympathetic to the Zapatista rebel movement, which launched an uprising in support of greater Indian rights six years ago.

Officially at least, there is very little detail of exactly what happened to the police patrol.

According to the state government, the chief of municipal police and six public security agents were travelling with the son of the local municipal mayor when a group of gunmen opened fire.

Criminals

Only one of the lower ranking agents and a civilian survived.

The official statement gave no hint of who the attackers might be, saying only that the patrol was investigating reports from locals who complained that armed criminals were operating in the region.

The authorities have sent in police and army reinforcements to find the attackers.

It is thought that such an attack would be out of character for the Zapatista rebels.

They have not been involved in major armed activity for years.

And it is believed to be in their interests to avoid further military pressure in the lead up to Mexico's presidential election due in three weeks time.

The region's political landscape is further complicated by the presence of criminal groups and right-wing paramilitaries.