Mexican president says to continue fight against drug-related violence

MEXICO CITY, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon said he had to fight back against the increasingly powerful drug cartels during a public meeting Thursday with families who lost relatives in his drug war.

Calderon told the families he had no choice but to fight back against increasingly powerful drug cartels and criminal groups shortly after he took office in December 2006. He said he only regretted not sending army troops sooner to the country's troubled regions.

"It would be really irresponsible not to take action," Calderon said.

But he also expressed sympathy for those who lost relatives in the war against drug cartels and organized crime. More than 35,000 lives have been lost during the war since Calderon ordered thousands of federal forces into action.

The meeting between the president and victims of the drug war came after poet Javier Sicilia, whose son was killed earlier this year, led two protests demanding the federal government change its public security policies and end the chaos caused by the drug war.

Editor:Zhang Dan |Source: Xinhua


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