Another Mexican police commander killed as questions mount over anti-narco tactics
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A gunman killed a high-ranking commander in the federal police and a bodyguard as they ate lunch at a busy restaurant here yesterday, writes the New York Times.
The shooting appears to be the latest attack on law enforcement officials who are waging a campaign against drug traffickers, the authorities said.
‘At 12:50 p.m., a man walked in and opened fire on their table with a pistol. Commander Labastida died at the scene. One bodyguard was also killed, while the others and the aide were seriously wounded. The gunman sprinted out, jumped into a waiting sedan and escaped, Mr. Caño said.’
Meanwhile the Christian Science Monitor asks this morning whether President’s Felipe Calderon’s use of the military in the country’s ongoing battle against its powerful drug cartels is doing more harm than good.
‘As Mexico throws an unprecedented 25,000 troops and police into its war against narcotrafficking, more citizens here are wondering if the illegal detentions and unlawful searches are worth the price. It’s a security versus loss of liberties trade-off that echoes concerns raised by Americans in their war on terrorism.’
-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City