Arrests over Mexico clinic deaths

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Five men accused of carrying out dozens of reprisal killings for one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels - the Sinaloa - have been arrested.

Police said the men were behind two separate attacks earlier this month at drugs rehabilitation centres in the northern city of Ciudad Juarez.

In total 28 people were lined up against a wall and murdered.

The cartels sometimes regard drug rehab patients who have worked for them as potential informants.

The arrested men are accused of being part of the armed wing of the Sinaloa cartel.

Extra police

The attacks at the drugs rehabilitation centres had been described as among the most horrendous ever seen in Ciudad Juarez, which as a major drugs trafficking centre is no stranger to violence.

The city, which is close to the US border, has seen some 1,400 drug-related deaths so far this year.

Thousands of extra police and troops have been deployed try to stem the inter-gang violence.

Earlier this month President Calderon used his annual state of the union address to defend his government's battle against the drug gangs.

"As never before, we have weakened the logistical and financial structure of crime," Mr Calderon said.