An independent U.S. journalist died and four other people were wounded in two shooting incidents in the Mexican city of Oaxaca.

An excerpt from the BBC story:

It is unclear who is responsible for the shootings which officials say began after locals clashed with protesters.

At least six people have been killed in the conflict that began in May when striking teachers and left-wing groups occupied the town centre.

Protesters accuse state Governor Ulises Ruiz of abuse of power, and say they will not back down until he is ousted.

Gunfire erupted when armed men tried to remove a blockade set up by protesters, the Associated Press news agency quoted a police official as saying. Both sides fired but it was not clear who shot first, he said.

The Oaxaca People's Popular Assembly, which is leading the protests, accused off-duty local policemen of carrying out the shootings.

The dead journalist has been named as Will Bradley Roland, a cameraman working with the US-based independent news group, Indymedia.