The death toll from a gunfight by suspected cartel gunmen in a northern Mexican town has risen to 21, putting more pressure on Mexico's president to curb gang violence after the United States vowed to label the gangs terrorists. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, mindful of efforts by US President Donald Trump to designate Mexican drug gangs as terrorist groups, has ruled out any intervention from abroad, while doubling down on his strategy of trying to contain the cartels.

The government of the northern state of Coahuila said local security forces killed 14 gunmen over the weekend, after a major gunfight broke out in the small town of Villa Union near the Texas border.

Police and civilians were also killed.

Trump's remarks have stirred concerns in Mexico that Washington could try to take unilateral action to crush the drug cartels.

US Attorney General William Barr is due to visit the country next week to discuss cooperation on security.

Homicides reached record levels in Mexico last year and are on track to surpass that total this year.

(Source: Reuters)