The battle to 'free' Mexican town from drug gangs: Huge firefight breaks out as vigilantes take on Knights Templar cartel

Vigilante groups in the western Mexican state of Michoacan have joined forces to confront drug cartels

The groups have sprung up all over Mexico over the past year, especially in Michoacan, which is plagued by the Knights Templar Cartel

More than 100 vigilantes stormed the town of Paracuaro at the weekend in an attempt to reclaim the city

Trucks, cars and shops were set on fire in the fight, as gun battles continued on Sunday



Gunfire and firefights erupted in western Mexico on Sunday as hundreds of vigilantes pressed forward in their fight over territory with a drug cartel, as Mexico's top security officials prepared to make yet another effort to try to stop the violence.



Members of so-called 'self-defense groups' entered the town of Nueva Italia on a campaign they say is designed to liberate towns from the control of the Knights Templar cartel.



Opponents and critics say the vigilantes are backed by a rival cartel, however the groups vehemently deny any connection.

Scroll down for video



Violence: Men belonging to the Self-Defense Council of Michoacan engage in a firefight while trying to flush out alleged members of the Knights Templar drug cartel from Nueva Italia on Sunday January 12, 2014

A bus burns at the entrance of Paracuaro, Mexico as residents of villages near Paracuaro set at least six cars and trucks on fire to protest the arrival of more than 100 vigilantes to their town of Michoacan Residents of villages near Paracuaro set at least six cars and trucks on fire to protest the arrival of more than 100 vigilantes to their town in the western state of Michoacan A truck burns at the entrance of Paracuaro, Mexico on Friday, January 10, 2014

The window of a bank is riddled with bullet holes in the town of Apatzingan in Michoacan state, Mexico on Saturday. Residents are destroying property to protest the arrival of vigilantes, or members of 'self-defense' groups, in their communities

Members of a self-defense group arrive on an armed vehicle to the village of Las Yeguas in Michoacan state Covered: A self-defense group take their stations in a fleet of trucks in the village of Las Yeguas, Mihoacan state, Mexico on Saturday

Member of a self-defense group barricade themselves against possible a possible ambush as they arrive to the village of Las Yeguas, Michoacan state, Mexico In formation: Self-Defense Council fighters enter the man plaza of the town of Nueva Italia on Sunday Battle ready: A self-defense group member stands at the ready in the town of Antunez on Saturday

State Government official Fausto Vallejo gave a brief statement on the issue, saying he has formally asked the federal government for more help to quell the violence, and announced a meeting on Monday in the state capital to lay out a strategy to reclaim the peace.



Hundreds of vigilantes arrived in Nueva Italia late Sunday morning in a cavalry of large trucks, surrounding the City Hall and disarming local police.

An Associated Press journalist on the scene witnessed citizens initially welcoming them.



But firefights broke out almost immediately in and around the center square.



Only one injury was reported by mid-day.



Gunfire could be heard around the city as the Mexican military stayed outside, guarding the road into town.

A wounded man belonging to the Self-Defense Council of Michoacan, is taken away during a firefight while trying to flush out alleged members of the Knights Templar drug cartel from the town of Nueva Italia, Mexico on Sunday January 12, 2014

Soldiers of the Mexican Army patrol the streets after the area was burned by members of organized crime at the Apatzingan in Michoacan State, Mexico Shocked: A man fighting with the Self-Defense Council of Michoacan is taken aback by the violence. On the right, a man belonging to a self-defense group stands armed near a checkpoint in Antunez



Soldiers patrol the main highway near Cuatro Caminos in Michoacan state, Mexico on Saturday January 11, 2014

A soldier patrols the main highway near Cuatro Caminos in Michoacan state, Mexico on Saturday January 11, 2014 Get low: A self-defense Council fighter takes cover during a fight in Nueva Italia on Sunday as the group tries to flish out members of the Knights Templar drug cartel Security: Self-defense Council fighters pat down municipal policemen in Nueva Italia on Sunday Under cover: Self-Defense Council fighters take cover near a carnival ride in the town of Nueva Italia on Sunday Break: In the midst of the weekend fight, a Self-Defense Council member smokes a cigarette in the town of Nueva Italia

There were no federal police or uniformed authorities inside the town, though violence between vigilantes and alleged cartel members has gripped Michoacan for almost a year, and President Enrique Pena Nieto's government already has sent thousands of units to the state.



Vallejo said he formally asked Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong on Friday for more federal forces, 'given insufficient state and municipal police'.



The self-defense groups claim that local and state police are in the employ of the Knights Templar.



Violence in the state has flared in the last several days as vigilantes have been on a march, taking over the towns of Paracuaro and Antunez and advancing toward the farming hub of Apatzingan, said to be the cartel's central command.



The federal government has said the civilian groups are operating on the margins of the law, and they carry high-caliber weapons that Mexico only allows for military use.



A member of a self-defense group take up position as they arrive to Las Yeguas in Michoacan state, Mexico on Saturday January 11, 2014. Vigilante groups have formed to confront drug cartels in parts of the state

View of the area burned at the Apatzingan in Michoacan State, Mexico, on January 11, 2014

The Mexican government deployed hundreds of forces after several attacks to the federal policemen occurred in villages of western Michoacan state Members of the citizens' Self-Protection Police patrol on the check point of Paracuaro community entrance in Michoacan State, Mexico, on January 11, 2014

But government forces have not moved against them and in some cases appear to be working in concert with them.



Rumors circulate that some self-defense groups have been infiltrated by the New Generation cartel, which is reportedly fighting a turf war with the Knights Templar in the rich farming state that is a major exporter of limes, avocados and mangos.



Some in the region say members of the Knights Templar have also tried to use self-defense groups as cover for illegal activities.

Federal police take pictures of a burning bus at the entrance of Paracuaro in Mexico on Friday January 10, 2014