Mexico independence day? Drug gang violence blast kills seven, wounds 101

The death toll from grenade attacks on an independence day celebration in central Mexico rose to eight on Saturday when a 13-year-old died in a hospital after fighting for his life for five days.

Michoacan state Gov. Leonel Godoy told local radio of the latest death from injuries sustained in Monday's attack in the colonial city of Morelia, capital of the drug gang-infested state of Michoacan.

Calderon participated Monday night in "El Grito" in Mexico City's central Zocalo square where tens of thousands of people gathered without incident to mark the event.

MEXICO CITY (AFP) - At least three people died with another 50 wounded overnight when twin explosions ripped through a Mexican independence day celebration in Morelia, the government said Tuesday.

President Felipe Calderon's office said it "condemned the violence in the strongest terms and will double efforts to support the ongoing investigation and to rid Michoacan of these crimes and violence."

Governor Leonel Godoy of Michoacan state confirmed the toll from the explosions in a main square in the center of the city where thousands of people had gathered to commemorate the 198th anniversary of independence, according to the websites of Mexican newspapers.

The explosions occurred shortly before midnight (0500 GMT) and just after the beginning of a re-enactment of the cry of independence known as "El Grito," a traditional ceremony celebrated throughout the country.

Morelia y México.- Al menos cinco personas murieron y 45 personas más resultaron “gravemente” lesionadas y decenas de ciudadanos sufrieron crisis nerviosa luego de que estallarán al menos cuatro granadas durante la celebración del Grito de Independencia. Los hechos ocurren en el estado del que es oriundo el presidente Felipe Calderón.

Deadly Mexico national day blasts

The explosions hit crowds gathered in Morelia's central square

The explosions happened shortly before midnight, as people gathered in the centre of the western city of Morelia.

Local media reports suggest they may have been caused by grenades.

The city is the capital of Michoacan, a state hit by a wave of drug gang violence in recent years. It is not known who was behind Monday's blasts.

Drug-related violence in Mexico has claimed the lives of more than 2,700 people so far this year.

Shoot-out

The explosions went off in the main square of Morelia as the crowds celebrated the beginning of the traditional reenactment of Mexico's cry for independence, known as El Grito, or The Shout.

Dozens of police officers were involved in a shoot-out after chasing suspects near the scene, the local El Sol de Morelia newspaper reported.