MONTERREY, Mexico Authorities say gunmen have killed the mayor of a northern Mexican town adding to a string of attacks on political figures in the drug-plagued region.

The Nuevo Leon state Attorney General's Office says Prisciliano Rodriguez Salinas was gunned down along with another employee of the town named Doctor Gonzalez, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Monterrey.

Rival gangs have been battling to control drug routes through Nuevo Leon and neighboring border states.

Gunmen killed another Monterrey area mayor in August after. In June, gunmen killed the leading gubernatorial candidate in neighboring Tamaulipas state. A mayoral candidate was slain there in May. A mayor in San Luis Potosi state was killed this month.

(This version CORRECTS typo in 1st paragraph, killed instead of skilled.)