Mexico: UN Calls for Withdrawal of Troops from Streets

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Mexico to set a timetable for the withdrawal of military forces from police work. Seid Ra’ad Al Hussein said that ministers of Defense and the Navy told him that they themselves were not at ease with having their forces doing such chores. Troubling violence surged in Mexico after former President Felipe Calderon deployed troops in 2006, allegedly to crack down on organized crime. Human rights groups have accused the armed forces of committing abuses on the streets of Mexico. teleSUR