18 killed cartel-plagued northern Mexican town

Authorities say 18 people have been killed in separate shootings in a northern Mexican town plagued by drug-cartel violence.

Authorities say 18 people have been killed in separate shootings in a northern Mexican town plagued by drug-cartel violence.

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The Tamaulipas state government says seven bodies were dumped the main square in Padilla, a town just north of the state capital of Ciudad Victoria. Another five people were shot to death inside their car and another person was killed in an attack on a passenger bus. The statement says five inhabitants of the town were killed, but did not specify how.

The violence all occurred early Monday morning. A turf war has raged in Tamaulipas state between the Gulf and Zetas drug cartels.