Around the World: Mexico

Officer quits after threat

A Mexican police chief has quit his post across the border from El Paso, Texas, after receiving death threats from drug gangs that are striking back at a crackdown on smugglers, an official said on Sunday.

Ciudad Juarez's top policeman Guillermo Prieto resigned just days after suspected cartel hit men killed the city's No 2 police officer.

Six high-ranking police officers have been killed in Mexico in the last two weeks as President Felipe Calderon steps up his battle against drug traffickers.

(China Daily 05/20/2008 page24)