Guadalajara - The Mexican government says security forces have killed Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, a top member of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel.

Coronel was believed to be the right-hand man of Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, Mexico's most-wanted drug lord.

His death is a major coup for President Felipe Calderon, who has declared "war" on the country's drug cartels.

The security forces say Coronel died in a shoot-out with an elite army group near the western city of Guadalajara