Security forces 3 Oct arrested 2 suspected of killing U.S. border agent; 7 Oct reportedly killed leader of Los Zetas cartel, Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano alias “El Lazca”, in Coahuila state; same day arrested Salvador Alfonso Martínez Escobedo, suspected of planning killings of dozens of Central and South American migrants; 23 Oct killed 7 alleged Zetas in Zacatecas state. UN human rights chief Pillay criticised U.S. border patrol for “excessive use of force” following 10 Oct shooting of Mexican teen. Amnesty International reported “alarming increase” in use of torture by authorities.

Security forces 27 Sept arrested Zetas cartel commander Ivan Velazquez Caballero “El Taliban”; 26 Sept killed 10 in “gang shoot-out” in Guerrero State; 12 Sept captured Gulf cartel leader Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sánchez “El Coss”; 3 Sept captured Gulf cartel leader Mario Cárdenas Guillén. Authorities 22 Sept found 7 burned/dismembered bodies along highway in Michoacán State; 16 Sept discovered dismembered bodies of 17 men in Jalisco State; 10 Sept found 16 bodies in vehicle in Guerrero State; 14 Sept found 16 bodies dumped in Tamaulipas; 6 Sept found 4 bodies hanging from bridge in San Luis Potosí. 2 Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) officials killed mid-Sept near Mexico City, Ciudad Obregón. Presidential runner-up Andrés Manuel López Obrador 9 Sept said leaving Democratic Revolution Party to set up new party. 131 inmates escaped from prison in Coahuila state 17 Sept.

Army 15 Aug announced deployment of 1,000 additional federal forces to Michoacán state following clashes between criminal gangs, police, killing 10; 6 shot dead 8 Aug in Nezahualcoyotl; mass graves uncovered mid-month in Tuxpan; 2 photographers found killed near Ecuandureo 19 Aug. In San Luis Potosi: 14 bodies discovered 10 Aug; gunmen 12 Aug shot dead mayor-elect of Matehuala, campaign manager. Gunmen 13 Aug killed 9 in Monterrey. Over 40 killed 18-19 Aug throughout country, including 12 in Acapulco. 3 bodies discovered 21 Aug, 11 bodies found abandoned 26 Aug on highway in Guerrero. Prosecutors 1 Aug filed charges against 2 retired, 1 active army generals accused of links to Beltran-Leyva cartel. Authorities 14 Aug arrested Supreme Court clerk for allegedly selling information to Sinaloa cartel. Presidential runner-up López Obrador 31 Aug rejected court ruling confirming Peña Nieto as president-elect, called for mass demonstration.

Opposition parties 19 July accused President-elect Peña Nieto of overspending, widespread vote-buying in run-up to 1 July poll which saw him elected with 38% of votes; PRD leader López Obrador asked electoral court to annul vote; decision to be adopted 6 Sept. Leaders of “#Yo soy 132” student movement 5 July said evidence of around 1,000 irregularities given to electoral authorities and prosecutors; thousands rallied 22 July in Mexico City to protest election results. Daily Proceso 19 July reported Zetas split into hostile factions led by Heriberto Lazcano or “El Lazca” and Miguel Angel Treviño or “Z-40”; navy 26 July arrested alleged Zetas chief Mauricio Guizar Cárdenas or “El Amarillo” in Oaxaca. Prosecutors 31 July charged 4 high-ranking army officers over suspected ties to Beltran-Leyva cartel.

2 political figures shot dead 11 June in Guerrero, Chiapas. 90,000 protested 10 June against presidential front- runner Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico City. Constitutional amendment 6 June passed making attacks on press federal offence; Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte early month announced plans to establish special commission to protect journalists. Journalist Víctor Chinos found killed in Xalapa 14 June. 14 dismembered bodies discovered 8 June in El Mante, Tamaulipas State; 14 mutilated bodies found 12 June, Veracruz; remains of 11 people found in mass grave in Lerdo de Tejada, Veracruz; 14 bodies discovered 23 June in Mante, Tamaulipas. At least 8 killed 2 June in separate attacks in Acapulco. 11 killed 3 June in armed attack on drug rehabilitation centre in Torreon. 25 June shootout in Mexico City airport left 3 policemen dead; 29 June bomb in Nuevo Laredo injured 7; 30 June shootout with police in Xalapa left 1 dead. U.S. 12 June arrested senior Zetas drug leader José Morales, 6 others; army 14 June arrested alleged top figure of Zetas cartel Gregorio Villanueva.

5 journalists killed; crime reporter Marco Antonio Avila found dead 18 May in Sonora State, photojournalists Gabriel Huge, Guillermo Luna, Esteban Rodriguez found dead 3 May in Veracruz; journalist Rene Orta Salgado found dead in Morelos State. Unidentified assailants 11 May attacked newspaper El Mañana in Nuevo Laredo. Authorities arrested 4 army officers suspected of links to Beltran Leyva cartel in unprecedented investigation of military high command. 49 dismembered bodies found 13 May in Nuevo Leon state; 18 bodies found 10 May in Jalisco; 23 bodies found 4 May in Tamaulipas. Authorities 20 May announced arrest of Zeta leader Daniel Elizondo, alias “Madman”, on suspicion of perpetrating Nuevo Leon massacre; Zetas denied responsibility. 8 police officers, 2 civilians injured 24 May following attack by gunmen on Nuevo Laredo hotel.

Gunmen 20 April killed 15 in Chihuahua, including 2 journalists; police 17 April found dismembered remains of 14 men in Nuevo Laredo, near U.S. border. At economic summit held 2 April in Washington DC, President Calderon asked U.S. govt to reinstate ban on assault weapons, arguing gun violence surged in Mexico when prohibition lifted in 2004, said 90% of assault weapons confiscated in Mexico come from U.S. . Proceso magazine journalist Regina Martinez found dead 28 April following article investigating arrests of police officers suspected of drug ties.

Campaigns ahead of 1 July presidential vote officially underway. Pope Benedict XVI visited 23-25 March, condemned drug trade, corruption; visit criticised by observers as attempt to boost ruling National Action Party (PAN) party. At least 11 policemen killed, 1 civilian injured by gunmen 18 March in Teloloapan during search for bodies after 10 severed heads found near town same day; 5 policemen killed 28 March by gunmen in Juarez. Security forces 9 March captured Nueva Generación cartel leader Erick Valencia Salazar in Jalisco state; 19 March identified 11 current and ex-govt officials who allegedly served as “protection network” for Zetas drug cartel in Coahuila state.

Govt 11 Feb said 12,903 people died in drug-related violence in 2011, increase of 11 per cent from 2010. Police 4 Feb arrested José António Torres Marrufo, leader of Gente Nueva gang– armed wing of Sinaloa drug cartel. U.S. court 10 Feb said drug gangs reportedly paid $4.5 million in political bribes to figures in opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). At least 44 killed in clash between rival Zeta and Gulf cartels at Apodoca prison 19 Feb; guards confessed to helping some 30 Zeta inmates escape prison after clash. Authorities 15 Feb found 6 mutilated bodies near Cuernavaca, 24 Feb found 4 bodies abandoned near Veracruz city hall.

Govt released statistics showing 12,000 drug-related killings in 2011, 11% increase from 2010. Authorities continued to target alleged kingpins, including leaders of Sinaloa, La Familia cartels; 16 Jan arrested Raymundo Mateo Cruz, reportedly in charge of cocaine distribution in Mexico State; 23 Jan killed Luis Alberto Cabrera Sarabia, high-ranking aide to most-wanted drug dealer El Chapo. 5 police killed 26 Jan near Mexico City; 9 killed in drug-related violence in Monterrey 26 Jan; 13 bodies dumped 9 Jan in Zitacuaro.