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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Clinton admits US blame on drugs | Clinton admits US blame on drugs |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the US must take part of the blame for drug-related violence in Mexico. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the US must take part of the blame for drug-related violence in Mexico. |
| Speaking as she arrived in Mexico, she said the US's appetite for drugs and its inability to stop arms crossing the border were helping fuel the violence. | Speaking as she arrived in Mexico, she said the US's appetite for drugs and its inability to stop arms crossing the border were helping fuel the violence. |
| Mrs Clinton's visit comes a day after the Obama administration announced new measures to boost border security. | Mrs Clinton's visit comes a day after the Obama administration announced new measures to boost border security. |
| Some 8,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico over the past two years. | Some 8,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico over the past two years. |
| On Tuesday, the White House unveiled a $700m (£745m) strategy that includes boosting security on the border, moves to stem the flow of illegal guns and drug profits from the US into Mexico, and steps to cut domestic drug consumption. | On Tuesday, the White House unveiled a $700m (£745m) strategy that includes boosting security on the border, moves to stem the flow of illegal guns and drug profits from the US into Mexico, and steps to cut domestic drug consumption. |
| Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Mexico arrests 'top drugs hitman' | Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Mexico arrests 'top drugs hitman' |
| Speaking upon arrival in Mexico, Mrs Clinton said: "Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. | Speaking upon arrival in Mexico, Mrs Clinton said: "Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. |
| "Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians. | "Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians. |
| "I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility." | "I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility." |
| The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Mexico says these points have been repeatedly made by Mexico, which sometimes sees itself as the setting for an American financed and armed war. | The BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Mexico says these points have been repeatedly made by Mexico, which sometimes sees itself as the setting for an American financed and armed war. |
| Trade dispute | Trade dispute |
| Mrs Clinton's two-day trip is expected to include stops in Mexico City and Monterrey, taking in talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa. | Mrs Clinton's two-day trip is expected to include stops in Mexico City and Monterrey, taking in talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa. |
| See the Mexican cartels' main areas of influence | See the Mexican cartels' main areas of influence |
| Trade and immigration issues are also expected to be high on Mrs Clinton's agenda. | Trade and immigration issues are also expected to be high on Mrs Clinton's agenda. |
| Mexico and the US are currently locked in a trade dispute, after the US government stopped a pilot scheme earlier this month which allowed Mexican trucks to use roads in the US. | Mexico and the US are currently locked in a trade dispute, after the US government stopped a pilot scheme earlier this month which allowed Mexican trucks to use roads in the US. |
| Mexico said the decision violated a free-trade deal between the countries and retaliated by imposing higher tariffs on some 90 American exports. | Mexico said the decision violated a free-trade deal between the countries and retaliated by imposing higher tariffs on some 90 American exports. |
| In signs of movement on the issue, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and other Obama administration officials have reportedly been working on plans to revive the scheme. | In signs of movement on the issue, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and other Obama administration officials have reportedly been working on plans to revive the scheme. |
| Mexico's Economy Minister Gerardo Ruiz Mateos said on Tuesday that his country would lift its tariffs as soon as the US returned to its "agreed commitments" on access for its trucks. | Mexico's Economy Minister Gerardo Ruiz Mateos said on Tuesday that his country would lift its tariffs as soon as the US returned to its "agreed commitments" on access for its trucks. |
| Illegal guns | Illegal guns |
| Mrs Clinton's trip is the first in a series of visits by high-level officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder, before President Barack Obama himself visits Mexico in mid-April. | Mrs Clinton's trip is the first in a series of visits by high-level officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder, before President Barack Obama himself visits Mexico in mid-April. |
| More agents will be sent to patrol America's southern border with Mexico | More agents will be sent to patrol America's southern border with Mexico |
| "We need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren't flowing back to the cartels," Mr Obama said at a news conference on Tuesday. | "We need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren't flowing back to the cartels," Mr Obama said at a news conference on Tuesday. |
| "That's part of what is financing their operations. That's part of what is arming them." | "That's part of what is financing their operations. That's part of what is arming them." |
| BBC state department Kim Ghattas says the focus on Mexico is a clear sign that Washington is worried about the situation there, but also that it believes it needs to help its southern neighbour. | BBC state department Kim Ghattas says the focus on Mexico is a clear sign that Washington is worried about the situation there, but also that it believes it needs to help its southern neighbour. |
| A senior state department official said the Obama administration believed there was a shared responsibility in solving the problem of drug-related violence, fuelled by supply and demand across the border. | A senior state department official said the Obama administration believed there was a shared responsibility in solving the problem of drug-related violence, fuelled by supply and demand across the border. |
| The senior US official also said Washington wanted a comprehensive engagement with Mexico and was intent on making sure the relationship would not be defined by the cartel-related violence. | The senior US official also said Washington wanted a comprehensive engagement with Mexico and was intent on making sure the relationship would not be defined by the cartel-related violence. |
| Mexican authorities announced on Wednesday that soldiers had detained one of the nation's alleged 37 top drug-traffickers. | Mexican authorities announced on Wednesday that soldiers had detained one of the nation's alleged 37 top drug-traffickers. |
| Hector Huerta Rios, said by the authorities to control the Monterrey operations of the Beltran Leyva cartel, was named on a "most wanted" list issued by the attorney general on Monday. | Hector Huerta Rios, said by the authorities to control the Monterrey operations of the Beltran Leyva cartel, was named on a "most wanted" list issued by the attorney general on Monday. |
| Return to top | Return to top |