Twenty two people were killed in gun battles in Ecuador's largest city Guayaquil on Thursday, in what police said was a potential dispute between factions of the Los Tiguerones criminal gang fighting for control of parts of one neighborhood.

Gangs, drugs and public safety threats are ravaging Ecuador’s largest city and may push the president to seek help from the United States.

The government of President Daniel Noboa, who is running for reelection in an April run-off, has intensified security operations over the past several weeks in the country’ most violent areas as part of a war on drug gangs declared by Noboa.