At least 11 gunmen have been killed in the latest clashes between security forces and drug smugglers in Mexico, authorities say.

Army troops on Saturday repelled an attack by armed men working for drug gangs in the eastern town of Puente Nacional in the state of Veracruz, killing six of them.

In a separate incident in the city of Culiacan in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, five armed drug smugglers lost their lives during clashes with police and army troops.

There have been no reports of police casualties.

At least 70,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since former President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against Mexico’s drug cartels in December 2006.

Current Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has vowed to reduce the crime rate as he continues the campaign against the drug cartels.

DB/SZH