Around the World: Mexico

Troops push drug gangs

Hundreds of heavily armed soldiers set up roadblocks on major highways in the home state of President Felipe Calderon on Saturday where drug gangs have stepped up attacks on Mexican security forces. The surge, one of the biggest in the three-year drug war, came after drug gangs targeted federal police in recent days in retaliation for the capture of a high-ranking member of the local cartel. In a brazen move last week, the cartel dumped the tortured and blood-smeared bodies of 12 police in a heap by a remote highway.