Soldiers on patrol in south-central Mexico killed 22 people Monday in a shootout, the Defense Ministry said.
Among the dead were 21 men and one woman. A soldier was injured, the (CNN) reported.
Authorities said they seized various weapons, including automatic rifles and handguns. They also rescued three woman who said they had been kidnapped, the ministry said in a statement.
The gunfight took place in Tlatlaya, located in Mexico state. Authorities said the shooting started after the soldiers came under fire.