Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

NEWSDESK

Mexico seeks more funds to fight crime, drug gangs
08 Sep 2008 23:50:44 GMT
 Source: Reuters
MEXICO CITY, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Mexican President Felipe Calderon wants to hike spending on fighting organized crime and drug gangs by 39 percent next year, as rampant violent crime poses the biggest test of his presidency.

Calderon requested the increase in his government's 2009 budget proposal, submitted to Congress on Monday, but did not give details of how he would spend any extra funds.

"I have asked for this increase of nearly 40 percent because we know that today security, justice and order are the principal challenge facing Mexico," Calderon said. Opposition parties are expected to back the request.

A surge in drug gang killings to more than 2,700 so far this year, as powerful cartels battle the army and each other, and a wave of often fatal kidnappings, triggered a protest march of more than 150,000 people in the capital last month.

Tens of thousands of spectators at a soccer match at the weekend also wore white to protest the crime wave.

Mexico has long ranked with conflict zones like Iraq and Colombia among the worst countries for abductions, yet the recent kidnapping and murder of the son of a high-profile businessman sparked an outcry from the crime-hardened general public.

Calderon responded to the end-August protest march by vowing to intensify a crackdown on violent crime, which is often the work of local gangs working for drug cartels.

The conservative president has made curbing drug violence the central plank of his presidency, but bloodshed has only increased since he sent some 45,000 troops out across Mexico to wage war on the country's powerful cartels.

His crackdown is set to be aided in the months ahead by the arrival of $1.4 billion worth of helicopters, surveillance gear and training from the United States.

Congress must approve next year's budget by November 15. (Reporting by Miguel Angel Gutierrez; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)


AlertNet news is provided by
Email this article       Send comments

NGO latest

•  Tropical Storm Julio Floods Northwestern Mexico: ADRA Responds
ADRA - International

•  Red Ribbon Award recognises Fortaleciendo la Diversidad' innovative work to reduce stigma and discrimination towards transgenders
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

•  Progress Slow at Facing Children's Needs at Mexico City AIDS Meeting
WV - USA

•  Global Food Crisis Threatens HIV Control
WV - USA

•  International AIDS Conference an "expensive talking shop" unless more done for children
WV - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

•  Mexico seeks more funds to fight crime, drug gangs

•  Peru arrests 20 over ties to Mexican drug cartel

•  Mexico catches top Gulf cartel drug trafficker

•  Tropical Storm Lowell forms of Mexico's Pacific

•  Mexicans protest crime at soccer match

MORE >>

AlertNet news is provided by

Background information

Facts & figures
Mexico

Related articles

Breaking stories
 Mexico seeks more funds to fight crime, drug gangs (1 minute ago)

Peru arrests 20 over ties to Mexican drug cartel (1 minute ago)

AlertNet insight
 MEDIAWATCH: Food summit thwarts hope (1 minute ago)

Aid agency news feed
 Tropical Storm Julio Floods Northwestern Mexico: ADRA Responds (1 minute ago)

Blogs
 Disasters rising, but don't just blame climate change (1 minute ago)

Maps
 Tropical storm Lowell (1 minute ago)


Del.icio.us Del.icio.us  |   Digg Digg  |   NewsVine NewsVine  |   Reddit Reddit   
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-09-01T083415Z_01_BOG03_RTRIDSP_2_COLOMBIA-BOMB_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/BOG03.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-09-01T083037Z_01_BOG02_RTRIDSP_2_COLOMBIA-BOMB_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/BOG02.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-09-01T082808Z_01_BOG01_RTRIDSP_2_COLOMBIA-BOMB_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/BOG01.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-08-29T054231Z_01_HNR19-_RTRIDSP_2_MEXICO-DRUGS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/HNR19..htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-08-24T183144Z_01_MEX59_RTRIDSP_2_MEXICO_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/MEX59.htm

Colombian police officers and rescue workers walk in front of the scene of car bomb explosion in Cali city September 1, 2008. At least four people were killed and around 20 ...


More pictures | Galleries
Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Mon Sep 8 23:52:38 2008