Mexican army sent to quell gang violence

ROSARITO BEACH, Mexico, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Mexican officials say federal army troops have arrived in Baja California to battle a relentless wave of drug gang slayings in the state's border towns.

The troops took up positions Tuesday in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, to help local police curb the violence, which by some estimates has claimed at least 140 lives since Sept. 26 in and around Tijuana, The San Diego Times-Union reported.

Rosarito Beach officials said they have asked the federal government for even more assistance. Mexican military officials wouldn't say exactly how many troops have been deployed to the state, but at least 50 soldiers had arrived by noon Tuesday, the newspaper said.

Baja California Attorney General Rommel Moreno told reporters that nearly all the investigations into the drug cartel slayings have been taken over by the federal attorney general's office because of their likely connections to organized crime groups.