Police and soldiers killed a federal agent driving one of three cars that ignored orders to stop in northern Mexico, triggering a chase and gunbattle Tuesday, authorities said.

The police and troops were on a joint patrol in the city of Chihuahua when they tried to stop three suspicious vehicles, the federal Attorney General's Office and the Defense Department said in a joint statement.

The three drivers ignored the order, leading to a chase and then a shootout when the occupants of two cars opened fire after being caught by the security forces, the statement said.

The driver of the one of the cars _ later identified as federal agent Miguel Angel Meneses _ was killed, according to the statement. Another person inside one of the cars was wounded.

The statement did not explain why the security patrol believed the three cars were suspicious. It said the incident was still under investigation.

Mexico's army has been criticized for incidents in which civilians were shot at roadside outposts or checkpoints. In December, soldiers fatally shot a pregnant 35-year-old woman who reportedly failed to stop at a highway checkpoint in Chihuahua.

Last month, the navy enacted new rules prohibiting sailors from firing on vehicles that try to evade land checkpoints unless they are shot at or feel themselves or others are in danger. The army, which operates more checkpoints than the navy, has not commented on whether it has similar rules.

President Felipe Calderon has deployed tens of thousands of military personnel and federal police across Mexico trying to crush drug trafficking cartels. Continued...