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Mexican troops take on cartels | Mexican troops take on cartels |
(about 15 hours later) | |
The Mexican government is sending thousands of extra troops and police to combat the country's drug cartels. | The Mexican government is sending thousands of extra troops and police to combat the country's drug cartels. |
It follows a series of assassinations of senior police officers in recent weeks, including the acting head of the federal police. | It follows a series of assassinations of senior police officers in recent weeks, including the acting head of the federal police. |
More than 1,000 people have died so far this year in cartel-related violence. | More than 1,000 people have died so far this year in cartel-related violence. |
Nearly 3,000 more soldiers and police officers will join the fight against the drug barons, bringing the total to more than 30,000 spread across Mexico. | Nearly 3,000 more soldiers and police officers will join the fight against the drug barons, bringing the total to more than 30,000 spread across Mexico. |
The new forces are being sent to the state of Sinaloa in the north. | The new forces are being sent to the state of Sinaloa in the north. |
Some infantry troops have already started arriving in Hercules aircraft. | Some infantry troops have already started arriving in Hercules aircraft. |
Rise in violence | Rise in violence |
Sinaloa has been particularly violent in the past few weeks with more deaths and executions and a bigger show of firepower by the drug gangs. | Sinaloa has been particularly violent in the past few weeks with more deaths and executions and a bigger show of firepower by the drug gangs. |
But it is also believed that the Sinaloa cartel hired hit men to kill Mexico's senior federal police officer last week. | But it is also believed that the Sinaloa cartel hired hit men to kill Mexico's senior federal police officer last week. |
Edgar Millan, who had been acting director of the federal police for just 30 days, was shot outside his home in the capital. | Edgar Millan, who had been acting director of the federal police for just 30 days, was shot outside his home in the capital. |
He was one of six senior police officers across Mexico to die in the past two weeks. | He was one of six senior police officers across Mexico to die in the past two weeks. |
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon pledged last week to take back the streets from the cartels. | Mexico's President Felipe Calderon pledged last week to take back the streets from the cartels. |
But since he came to office in 2006 more than 3,500 people have died in the violence. | But since he came to office in 2006 more than 3,500 people have died in the violence. |
Some government spokesmen have argued that the latest wave of killings is a sign the cartels are being weakened by the massive troop deployment and that they are trying to hit back. | Some government spokesmen have argued that the latest wave of killings is a sign the cartels are being weakened by the massive troop deployment and that they are trying to hit back. |
But others say they are still a dangerous force that can adapt to anything, in order to maintain control of a drugs supply to the United States that is said to be worth around $20bn (£10bn). | But others say they are still a dangerous force that can adapt to anything, in order to maintain control of a drugs supply to the United States that is said to be worth around $20bn (£10bn). |
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