Mexican government troops killed 22 suspected gangsters in a clash earlier this week at the northern city of Mier, the Defence Ministry said Thursday.

A group of soldiers were on patrol around a ranch called El Canaleno when they were attacked by suspected gangsters. The troops fired back, killing 22 of the gangsters. One solider was injured.

The soldiers also seized seven cars, 18 rifles, four pistols, 99 cartridges, 1,540 rounds of ammunition, 55 grenades and military-style uniforms.

On Thursday, local authorities reported that 11 gunmen were killed in a clash with government troops near Cerralvo, a small town not far from Mexico's northeast resort of Monterrey. Six people had died in a similar incident there in March.

There have been several clashes between government troops and gangsters in northern Mexico over the last few weeks.