Mexican army frees 20 kidnap victims in Monterrey Published duration 10 July 2011

media caption The hostages covered their faces to avoid being photographed

The Mexican army has freed 20 people who had been kidnapped in the northern industrial city of Monterrey.

Soldiers found them gagged, bound and huddled together in a tiny make-shift shack in a northern neighbourhood of the city.

Some of the hostages said they had been held for 11 days while their captors tried to negotiate ransom demands.

The man guarding them was arrested and two long-range weapons and ammunition were seized.

They said the kidnappers had asked for between $3,000 (£1,850) and $5,000 in ransom.