CIUDAD JUAREZ - Soldiers fought gun battles with drug cartel hit men near the U.S. border on Tuesday after gangsters abducted local police in violence
that killed 21 people, including an Army sergeant.
Soldiers pursued the hit men through freezing desert in the northern state of Chihuahua after they dragged nine people, including some police, out of
houses and shot six of them at a ranch early Tuesday, the Army said.
Heavily armed soldiers burst into the ranch, near the Texan border, and fatally shot several of the hit men, later chasing another group by helicopter
before killing them, too, Army spokesman Enrique Torres said from the area.
"The bodies were strewn across the desert outside the nearby town of Vi-lla Ahumada," Torres said.
Residents in Villa Ahumada, a cattle ranching community in the state, said they saw a convoy of sport utility vehicles ride through the snow-covered
town before dawn on Tuesday, and several people were abducted from their homes. Some people later heard shots in the countryside.
"People are really afraid of a revenge attack by hit men after this violence," a local journalist who asked not to be named told Reuters.
Villa Ahumada, a town of 1,500 people, was virtually taken over by drug cartels last year when gangs killed two consecutive police chiefs and two
officers. The rest of the 20-member force resigned in fear, forcing the Army to take over for months until the town was able to recruit new officers.
The town´s mayor, Fidel Chávez, fled to the state capital for his own safety.
More than 2,000 of the more than 6,000 drug war deaths recorded last year were in Chihuahua.rpleger - 2-11-2009 at 10:01 AM
Civil War in Chihuahua...Baja Norte is next vandenberg - 2-11-2009 at 10:09 AM
Any Nomads up for a "Duck hunt"Pato - 2-11-2009 at 10:53 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
Any Nomads up for a "Duck hunt"
Well Sir, some people around here seem to have a bit more patience (or is it respect ?) for the "crusties" than others.
I'm sure you will be able to relate with this poor soul (not his victims of course).
