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

Rival factions of an Ecuadoran drug trafficking gang fought Thursday in the violent port city of Guayaquil, leaving at least 22 people dead, officials said.

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.

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