MEXICO CITY, July 23 (UPI) -- Dozens of people have died in new violence in four Mexican states, although recent statistics indicate a drop in homicides, officials said.
Data for June indicated 869 homicides were reported by the Interior Ministry, the Los Angeles Times reported. Before February, the toll topped 1,000 killings every month for three consecutive years.
However, during the past five days, officials reported incidents that include an ambush on federal police and the killing of two people by gunmen disguised as doctors at a clinic, the Times said.
In June, six months after Enrique Pena Nieto was sworn in as president, his government said in both February and May the number of homicides linked to federal crimes was less than 1,000 per month.
Related
The ambush of the federal officers happened Thursday in Michoacan state on a highway near the border with Guerrero state, officials said. Three officers were killed and six were wounded, the state prosecutor's office said.
On Friday, the bodies of two men and two women were found hanging at the entrance of El Limon de la Luna in Michoacan state, officials said.
Multiple deaths by shooting or burning were reported in two other Mexican states -- Coahuila and Durango -- in recent days as well, officials said.
In addition to military personnel fighting drug cartels since 2006, the federal government next year will induct 4,000-5,000 members to a new special police force with military training Pena Nieto promised during his campaign, the Times said.
Last week, federal officials captured Zetas drug cartel chief Angel Trevino Morales. Many speculated whether a rash of bloodshed would follow, the Times said, but it wasn't clear if recent events were tied to his capture.
