A three-hour shootout between Mexican armed forces and a Tijuana-based drug cartel has resulted in six dead kidnapping victims:

The men had been killed by a shot to the head, a federal agent told a news briefing in the border city of Tijuana.

The stand-off began as agents prepared to raid a house that police say was a hideout for the Tijuana drugs cartel, also known as Arellano Felix.

It is the latest in a series of drug-related killings in Mexico.

Tijuana is the biggest city in Baja California, which was Mexico’s most violent state in 2007 with more than 400 murders.

President Felipe Calderon sent more than 3,000 soldiers to Tijuana earlier this month, as part of a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking and gang violence.

Nearby schools were evacuated, with police officers carrying children out to safety amidst gunfire. One gunman was killed and four officers wounded.

S’why we stick to homemade drugs.

Bodies found after Mexican raid [BBC]