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Mexican president promises to fight police corruption
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-12 10:31

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Monday pledged to combat corruption among the country's policemen and restore people's confidence in them.

"Society demands that we comply with our duty to stop police corruption and restore people's faith in them," Calderon said in the municipality of Ecatepec in Mexico state.

"I agree with the citizens who are demanding that the authorities coordinate their efforts to reinstate justice and basic security for the people," he added.

All government officials are required to fulfill their obligations to fight police corruption, the president said.

There have been widespread calls to clean up the country's police force as many of them are believed to have connections with criminal gangs who carry out kidnapping and other serious offenses.

Last week, 14-year-old Fernando Marti, the son of a prominent Mexican businessman, was kidnapped and murdered by a gang supposedly formed by policemen.