Pubdate: Wed, 16 May 2007
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2007 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Hector Tobar, LA TImes

TROOPS URGED TO FIGHT DRUG WAR IN MEXICO CITY

Mexico City -- The leaders of two political parties called Tuesday 
for army troops to be dispatched to this capital city and its suburbs 
to fight drug traffickers in the wake of the assassination of a 
high-ranking official in the attorney general's office.

President Felipe Calderon promised an "unprecedented battle" against 
the traffickers, who have killed as many as 1,000 people as they 
fight each other and Mexican authorities over control in a lucrative 
trade in cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and other illicit drugs. 
Most of the drugs are shipped to the United States.

The shooting in the political, cultural and media capital of Mexico 
raised troubling questions about Calderon's declared war on 
traffickers, which has included troop deployments to several states 
and cities where violence has since spiraled. Newspaper editorials 
Tuesday accused the president of being unprepared for the backlash.

Jorge Chabat, an author and drug-trade expert in Mexico, said the 
public probably would continue to back Calderon's efforts against the 
traffickers despite the recent setbacks.

"It could be argued that Calderon's offensive has made the violence 
worse, and that he was not fully prepared for the escalation of 
violence that followed," Chabat said. "But the only other alternative 
was to do nothing. Or to make a deal with the drug traffickers. And 
that just isn't possible in a democratic state under the rule of law."

Police said they had few leads in the shooting of Jose Nemesio Lugo 
Felix, who had been appointed just weeks ago to head a drug 
intelligence unit in the attorney general's office. Lugo Felix was 
killed in a rush-hour ambush Monday just a few yards from his office.

"We are witnessing a head-on, unprecedented struggle in the history 
of our country against organized crime," said Jorge Tirana, a leader 
of the conservative National Action Party in Mexico City's 
Legislative Assembly. "We believe that Mexico City has become one of 
the most dangerous hot spots in the country and that (the 
authorities) have not acted appropriately."

Leaders of the Institutional Revolutionary Party in Mexico City and 
surrounding Mexico state joined the call for troops and federal 
police to deploy in the Mexico City metropolitan area, home to about 
20 million people.

Until recently, widespread drug violence mostly had been a provincial 
phenomenon centered in Mexico's border and port cities.

But this year has seen several violent incidents apparently related 
to drug trafficking in and around Mexico City, including the shooting 
deaths of two federal police officers April 26 on the highway linking 
Mexico City to Toluca.

Tuesday, observers said Lugo Felix's death could mark a turning point 
in the nation's drug war.

Since taking power in December, Calderon has sent army troops and 
federal police units to fight drug traffickers in several regions and 
cities of Mexico, including the border city of Tijuana and the 
southern states of Guerrero and Michoacan.
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