MEXICO CITY, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Guatemalan police said on Monday that 12 deaths were reported a day earlier after an armed clash between two drug trafficking gangs in the northwest of Guatemala.

A police car is seen at the scene after an armed clash between two drug trafficking gangs in the northwest of Guatemala. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Guatemala's Civil National Police said the shooting began Sunday in the small northwestern town of Agua Zarca, a few kilometers away from the border with Mexico, according to news reports from Guatemala City.

    The clash lasted from noon to late night, killing 12 people, the reports said.

    A local radio station said the number of deaths was 18, and that two women were injured by shots.

Two policeman are seen on parol after an armed clash between two drug trafficking gangs in the northwest of Guatemala(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Authorities seized hand grenades and high power fusils at the site, as well as nine cars.

    Another radio station said the dead were identified as drug traffickers from Mexico and Guatemala. It is said the two gangs began to quarrel during a horse race and started shooting later.

    Police were now investigating if the incident was linked to last week's clash in the northern city of Coban, which claimed no victims.