Security forces 12 Dec killed 11 gunmen near U.S. border, same day captured founder of Los Zetas drug cartel Lucio Hernandez and third-in-command in Cordoba, 20 Dec found 10 bodies believed related to drug violence in Durango state. Women’s rights activist Norma Andrade shot, injured outside home in Ciudad Juarez 3 Dec. Entire Veracruz police force disbanded 21 Dec in effort to root out corruption; military took over policing duties. Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) head Humberto Moreira forced to step down 2 Dec over financial scandal; Enrique Peña Nieto named PRI candidate for July presidential election. International NGO named Mexico most dangerous country for journalists for 2nd consecutive year.

Continued violence as 8 bodies found early Nov in Veracruz, 3 police officers killed 21 Nov near U.S. border, 50 suspected cartel members found dead 23-24 Nov in Culiacan, Guadalajara. In blow to govt anti-drug campaign Interior Secretary Francisco Blake Mora killed 11 Nov in helicopter accident, anti-violence activist Nepomuceno Moreno killed 28 Nov in Sonora. 2006 election runner-up Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced intention to present candidacy for July 2012 presidential poll. Governing party 13 Nov lost Michoacán gubernatorial election to Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) amid charges cartels used violence, intimidation to influence results. Govt reported several high-level cartel arrests, including 10 Nov capture of Ovidio Limon Sanchez, senior Sinaloa cartel leader.

Security forces early Oct arrested 18 police officers accused of working with Zetas cartel; 4 Oct captured Martin Rosales Magaña, leader of Familia Michoacana cartel, and Noel Salgueiro Nevarez, leader of Sinaloa cartel in Chihuahua state, in separate raids. Police 6 Oct arrested Alfredo Carmona, suspected “Mata-Zetas” (Zetas killers) leader and 14 Oct Marco Garza de León Quiroga, high-ranking Zetas cartel boss. 32 bodies found in Veracruz 7 Oct; officials believe killings carried out by “Mata-Zetas”. 21 killed 28 Oct in Michoacan in shootouts between security forces, gunmen, rival drug gangs. President Calderon 17 Oct sparked row with opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party, alleging it might consider deals with cartels if it wins July 2012 presidential election.

49 bodies of alleged members of Los Zetas cartel found in Veracruz state 20, 22 Sept; officials believe attack carried out by New Generation gang, challenging Zetas, Golfo and Familia Michoacana cartels. Newspaper editor Maria Macias found decapitated in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas state 24 Sept; officials say Macias killed for using social media to report on drug violence. 140 Acapulco schools closed over month as teachers went on strike over security threats. 5 severed heads found outside Acapulco primary school 27 Sept. Police officer arrested 1 Sept in connection with late Aug arson attack on casino in Monterrey; dozens of suspected Zeta members arrested mid Sept in Hidalgo state. Campaign began for July 2012 presidential elections; former governor of Mexico State Enrique Peña Nieto seeking nomination of opposition Partido Revolucionario Institucional.

At least 52 people killed 25 Aug in arson attack on casino in Monterrey; 5 suspected members of drug cartel arrested. Kidnapped journalist found shot dead 25 Aug in Culiacan, Sinaloa. At least 25 killed, many taxi drivers, in Acapulco, Guerrero 15-20 Aug. Govt 7 Aug confirmed media reports U.S. has deployed CIA, DEA “advisers” to Mexico to assist fight against cartels. 21 of 31 federal prosecutors resigned 1 Aug; Attorney General refused to confirm if resignations linked to recent purge of corrupt officials. At least 5 influential cartel leaders arrested, including in Morelia, Ciudad Juarez and Acapulco. Authorities 29 Aug announced grave containing 7 bodies found in Chihuahua.

Opposition Partido Revolucionario Institucional 3 July won landslide victories in 3 state gubernatorial elections, including Estado de México, widely seen as early indicator of 2012 general election outcome. At least 97 killed 8-9 July in cartel violence, including 20 in Monterrey. At least 21 killed in Ciudad Juárez 13 July, highest daily death toll in city in 2011. Supreme Court 12 July ruled soldiers accused of human rights violation to be tried in civilian courts; rights groups welcomed ruling. Unidentified gunmen 22 July killed 2 police guards of U.S. consulate in Monterrey. Police 4 July arrested “El Mamito” in Campeche, allegedly 3rd highest leader in Las Zetas cartel. 18 July report by Ministry of Public Security stated at least 7 new criminal organisations have been created in Mexico over past year. 17 killed in 27 Ciudad Juarez prison riots. Police 29 July arrested alias “El Diego”, influential hitman with links to Gulf, Aztecas cartels, who reportedly ordered some 1,500 assassinations.

Several incidents highlighted rising level of violence around Monterrey: drug gangs 15 June killed 33 in Monterrey, including 2 bodyguards of Nuevo León governor. 784 killed in Monterrey during 2011 so far, higher than total 2010 death toll. 21 bodies with signs of torture found in Morelia 9 June. Gang members 27 June killed police chief of Santa Catarina, suburb of Monterrey. Police 4 June arrested Jorge Hank Rhon, ex- mayor of Tijuana and influential member of opposition PRI, for possession of heavy weapons; charges later dropped. Govt 1 June charged 73, including several police officers, over killing of hundreds found Apr in mass graves in Tamaulipas. Police 21 June arrested José de Jesús Méndez Vargas, alleged head of Michoacán-based cartel La Familia. National police 13 June launched major operation attempting to prove local capability to fight organised crime.

More than 100,000 demonstrated against drug violence 8 May in Mexico City, called for resignation of public security minister Genaro García Luna; PRD party 12 May announced formal corruption allegation against García Luna. Following 2011 increase in kidnappings, killings of migrant workers, govt 12 May fired 7 govt immigration officials accused of collaborating with cartels. Police 13 May arrested Martin Beltran Coronel, suspected leader of Sinaloa cartel, in Guadalajara. 28 killed 25 May in shootout between rival drug gangs in Nayarit.

Police 6-15 Apr found mass graves containing at least 183 bodies in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, thought to be migrant workers kidnapped by Zetas cartel; 16 police arrested 13 Apr, suspected of providing protection for cartel; navy 16 Apr arrested alleged Zetas leader in San Fernando. Police 21 Apr found additional mass grave of 104 bodies in Durango. President Calderón 3 Apr named Marisela Morales Ibáñez from his PAN party new attorney general; followed highly-criticised predecessor Arturo Chávez Chávez’s 31 March resignation.

President Calderón met U.S. President Obama in Washington 3 March amid growing bilateral tensions: U.S. continues to press for extradition of suspects in Feb murder of U.S. customs official outside Mexico City; U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual resigned 19 March after criticising Mexican security forces in cable released by WikiLeaks. Julian Leyzaola 10 March named public safety secretary in Ciudad Juarez, where more than 3,000 people killed in 2010; Leyzaola earlier credited with bringing stability to Tijuana, but criticised for alleged use of torture. Suspected cartels 21 March killed Chihuahua state top anti-drugs investigator; same day in Michoacán killed mayor of Tzitzio, imprisoned on corruption charges, and prominent trade union leader. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre 29 March said 230,000 displaced by drug violence in Mexico over recent years.