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'Narco-Protests' Paralyze Mexican Border Crossings

Authorities believe anti-military protesters are in the pay of drug cartels

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 19, 2009 10:15 AM CST

(Newser) – Civilian protesters suspected of being in the pay of drug traffickers have blocked Mexican bridges to the US in recent days, demanding that the military leave their cities, the Dallas Morning News reports. Officials see the demonstrations—dubbed "narco-protests"—as a worrying new development amid a wave of violence already being likened to civil war.

Recruiting protesters is an easy task, said a newspaper editor, given growing border unemployment. "These are people without AK-47s, without grenades, who can take control of international bridges, and the government doesn't do anything about it," added one Mexican security expert.

[Images (5)]

[Videos (2)]

A forensic police officer works at the crime scene where a body was found in Ciudad Juarez, northern Mexico, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Police officers guard a vehicle, right, in which suspected members of a crime gang are taken away after being shown to the press in Mexico City, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Police officers guard suspected members of a crime gang at the headquarters of the Mexican Federal Police in Mexico City, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

Protesters taunt riot police in the northern industrial city of Monterrey, Mexico, Tuesday Feb. 17, 2009. (AP Photo)

Protesters block the bridge to El Paso on the Mexican side in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday Feb. 17, 2009. (AP Photo)

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Residents in Mexico blocked bridges protesting alleged abuses by army troops sent to combat drug trafficking. (CNN Video)

A reporter attempts to work as Mexican police and presumed drug traffickers exchange fire in Reynosa, Mexico. (CNN Video)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 2 of 2 comments

whtmountain

Feb 23, 2009 9:57 PM CST

This border should be guarded by the Feds - thanks for sutting it out of the budget!!!! How stupid can we get? This souther border cannot be guarded by the southern states allone - this is a GATEWAY to the rest of us! Wake up America - we need somebody on the lines - you would think at this point it would become a priority for national security - this is not about Mexicans - this is not about drug lords - this is about an unguarded border to the soverign United States of America - once they cross they can go anywhere and everywhere and they do!!!

PosterNutbag

Feb 19, 2009 1:34 AM CST

I'm not buying this drug story.

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Dallas Morning News (Source Grid »)
CNN (Source Grid »)

Mexico blames drug gangs for protests
New York Times

Mexico spiraling towards 'civil war'
CNN

Drug war puts US border zones on edge
Los Angeles Times

World • Crime & Courts

Mexico • Mexican border • drug trafficking • Mexican drug war • Mexican army • drug cartel

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'Narco-Protests' Paralyze Mexican Border Crossings