MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The U.S. ambassador to Mexico on Saturday rejected President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s claims that the U.S. was “co-responsible” for violence within the western state of Sinaloa, the place greater than 50 folks have died in an intra-cartel warfare this month.
Two rival factions of the highly effective Sinaloa Cartel have been preventing since Sept. 9, a battle that may be traced to the high-profile arrest on U.S. soil of legendary trafficker, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, on July 25.
Zambada alleges he was kidnapped in Mexico and flown to the U.S. by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a senior crime boss in a rival faction of the Sinaloa Cartel who had been holding talks with the U.S. about surrendering.
The incident has strained relations between the 2 international locations, with Mexico demanding to know extra particulars. The latest violence in Sinaloa has killed not less than 53 folks, left 51 lacking, and paralyzed many cities and cities.
Lopez Obrador, who is because of step down subsequent month, mentioned on Thursday the U.S. shared accountability for the violence due to its “operation,” a reference to the prior give up talks with Guzman.
U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar, who had beforehand denied U.S. officers had been concerned within the alleged kidnapping of Zambada, rejected the Mexican president’s argument.
“What’s being seen in Sinaloa just isn’t the fault of the USA,” Salazar mentioned in a press convention within the northern state of Chihuahua, including that the U.S. can’t be held answerable for “the massacres that we see in other places.”
Salazar mentioned he has informed incoming Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that cooperation between Mexico and the U.S. should be “sturdy and deep” to take care of the safety challenges.
Mexican authorities mentioned on Saturday that one other 600 troopers had arrived in Sinaloa to assist reinforce safety.
(Extra reporting by Lizbeth Diaz; Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Enhancing by Paul Simao)
