Federal police officers patrol the entrance to the hospital where Mexico's acting Federal Police Chief Edgar Millan Gomez died in Mexico City, 08 May 2008

The acting chief of Mexico's federal police has been shot been dead in Mexico City.

Security officials say Edgar Millan Gomez was shot at least nine times Thursday outside his home. Two of his bodyguards were wounded.

Police say a suspect has been arrested, but that a motive for the attack has not been determined.

Millan was in charge of coordinating large scale operations against drug traffickers.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has condemned the attack on Millan. The president's office issued a statement saying the government expresses its deepest sympathy in light of what it called this "cowardly killing."

Since taking office in 2006, President Calderon has launched a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking, which is blamed for a rise in violence in Mexico, particularly near the U.S. border.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.