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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US to boost Mexico border defence | US to boost Mexico border defence |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The US government is to increase security at the country's border with Mexico, in an attempt to combat drug cartels, the White House has announced. | The US government is to increase security at the country's border with Mexico, in an attempt to combat drug cartels, the White House has announced. |
| The number of immigration, customs and anti-drug agents and gun law enforcement officers will be increased, officials said. | The number of immigration, customs and anti-drug agents and gun law enforcement officers will be increased, officials said. |
| Some 8,000 people have died in Mexico over the past two years amid bitter turf wars between rival drugs gangs. | Some 8,000 people have died in Mexico over the past two years amid bitter turf wars between rival drugs gangs. |
| The south-west US has also seen rising violence and kidnappings. | The south-west US has also seen rising violence and kidnappings. |
| Gun crackdown | Gun crackdown |
| Agents from the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will be sent to the border to region to help deal with the issue. | Agents from the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will be sent to the border to region to help deal with the issue. |
| Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST) teams will be doubled and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is to create special south-west intelligence group to coordinate all its efforts to tackle Mexican drug-related crime. | |
| ATF is to send 100 agents to the border within 45 days to crack down on illegal gun transfers from the US into Mexico. | ATF is to send 100 agents to the border within 45 days to crack down on illegal gun transfers from the US into Mexico. |
| Mexico's government will also receive five helicopters as part of the scheme. | Mexico's government will also receive five helicopters as part of the scheme. |
| The plan will draw on $700m (£475m) of funds already allocated by Congress. | The plan will draw on $700m (£475m) of funds already allocated by Congress. |
| The drug violence claimed the lives of some 6,000 people in 2008 and so far this year more than 1,000 have been killed as gangs fight both one another for territory and the police and troops sent to tackle them. | The drug violence claimed the lives of some 6,000 people in 2008 and so far this year more than 1,000 have been killed as gangs fight both one another for territory and the police and troops sent to tackle them. |
| Annoucing the details of the plan, US Deputy Attorney General David Ogden vowed "to destroy these criminal organizations". | Annoucing the details of the plan, US Deputy Attorney General David Ogden vowed "to destroy these criminal organizations". |