Mexico Authorizes Troops in Tamaulipas

Mexican President Felipe Calderon authorized on Saturday to send Army special forces to the Tamaulipas state to stop the criminal actions by the bastions of the Gulf cartel.

According to a text issued by the presidency, the decision responds to the recognized infiltration by drug dealers and the organized crime of national politics, through a strategy of supposed protection.

Federal authorities investigated how groups of drug dealers established an alliance with the police in Reynosa, Tamaulipas' capital, and penetrated the political sectors.

Calderon announced a declaration on Friday, demanding that parties, legislators, federal police, and mayors strongly reject any attempt by the organized crime to participate in the Mexican political sphere.

The gang heads intimidate candidates and impose others, finance campaigns with money from drug traffic, and disqualify electoral challenging appeals, the Executive admitted.

The actions against that scourge were called urgent by the head of State, who slammed assassination on Thursday of Jose Antonio Guajardo, former Reynosa mayor, who denounced the relation among state officials and drug dealers.