MEXICO: MORE BOLD ANTI-DRUG MOVES BY CALDERON

BBC:

Hundreds of Mexican soldiers have taken over the police headquarters in the eastern Tabasco state, as part of an effort to curb drug-related violence.

The troops seized weapons from police, after the force had come under suspicion of working with drugs gangs. Three people were detained in the raid in Villahermosa, the state capital. Tabasco had largely escaped the drug violence that has blighted Mexico, but in recent months the state has become caught up in the crime wave.

Last week, a severed head was found in front of the police headquarters. It had apparently been left there as a threat by criminals. Now the police themselves have come under suspicion of being connected to the drug gangs, says the BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Mexico City.

A similar operation was mounted in the north-western city of Tijuana in January.

BRAVO CALDERON! THE DEFEATED LEFTIST CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, OBRADOR, WOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN THESE BOLD MEASURES. [ASIDE: Villahermosa was once a safe touristic town - home of LA VENTA, a statuary park of beautiful ancient Olmec monuments - see above. Perhaps - if the crackdown continues - Villahermosa will one day be a safe place to visit --- as was Oaxaca once...]