US journalist, two others killed

OAXACA, Mexico, (Reuters)

Gunmen opened fire in Mexico's colonial city of Oaxaca on Friday, killing three people, including a U.S. journalist, near roadblocks set up by leftists pushing to topple a state governor.

Brad Will, a cameraman working with Indymedia New York, was shot in the chest and died before reaching the hospital, the independent news group said on its Web site.

Oaxaca's state prosecutor's office said two others, including a protesting teacher, were also shot to death.

Nine people, mostly protesters, have been killed in a conflict that began in Oaxaca state five months ago, when striking teachers and leftist activists occupied much of the colonial city, storming Congress and blocking hundreds of streets in an effort to oust state Gov. Ulises Ruiz.

The conflict has escalated with increasingly frequent drive-by style gun attacks against the protesters' barricades. Will died in one of at least two shootouts on Friday in the city, a popular tourist spot. Teacher Emilio Alonso was shot in a separate attack.