Originally published on January 15, 2014
The Mexican government launched an offensive on Tuesday (January 14) to quell ongoing violence between vigilante groups and a drug cartel in Michoacan state.
A convoy of 200 military and federal police arrived in Apatzingan, where they stood guard at the mayoral office while officials met with members of the vigilante groups.
Hours earlier, police clashed with civilian militia in Antunez ,where four civilians were said to have been killed.
Speaking after the clash, Hipolito Mora, a spokesman for the vigilantes, said the groups would not seize more towns.
The vigilante groups were set up by civilians who claimed that the state has failed to protect them from drug cartels. The conflict in Michoacan has become the greatest security challenge for President Enrique Pena Nieto in his 13-month administration.
Vigilantes seized the town of Nueva Italia on Sunday, January 12, after clashing with drug cartel members, before heading to Apatzingan. According to the BBC, more than a hundred men entered the town and disarmed local police. They exchanged fire with alleged members of the Knights Templar drug cartel.
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