MEXICO CITY, May 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 39 people were killed Friday in central Mexico's state of Michoacan following a clash between an armed group and Federal Police, authorities said.

Sources from the government's security cabinet told Xinhua the armed group launched the attack against agents in the township of Tanhuato.

The morning clash took place along a stretch of highway near the community of Tinaja de Vargas, on the border with neighboring Jalisco state, in the Vista Hermosa region. Both Michoacan and Jalisco have been rocked by drug cartel violence lately.

Members of the security cabinet, headed by the Interior Ministry, traveled to the site to assess the situation, the same sources said. A more complete report is expected later in the day.

Media reports said the attack was organized by Jalisco's New Generation cartel.