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Mexico saw 'smaller jump in drug murders in 2011' Mexico drug war deaths over five years now total 47,515
(about 17 hours later)
Mexican officials say that 12,903 people were killed in violence blamed on criminal gang rivalry between January and September last year. Mexican officials say nearly 13,000 people were killed in violence blamed on organised crime between January and September last year.
Murders in 2011 were 11% up on those for 2010, the federal attorney general's office said. This means there have been 47,515 drug-related killings since President Felipe Calderon launched his crackdown on drug traffickers in late 2006.
But this was significantly less than the 70% rise in murders in 2009-2010. Officials said the 11% rise in murders was far slower than in previous years.
More than 40,000 people have died in drug-related violence since late 2006 when President Felipe Calderon launched his crackdown on the drug gangs. But with presidential elections in July, violence is set to be a key issue for voters, correspondents say.
The federal attorney-general's office (PGR) had not given any official figures on to drug-related murders since January last year. On Wednesday, Mexico's Federal Attorney General's office (PGR) released figures showing that 12,903 people had been killed in drug-related violence during the first nine months of 2011.
The statistics released now are an advance on the database the PGR is keeping on murders attributed to conflicts between rival criminal organisations. It was the first time official statistics had been released since January 2011 and came in response to a series of freedom of information requests over several months.
The PGR statement said that the 11% rise was "a significant decrease" on previous years. The PGR said that the 11% rise was "a significant decrease" on previous years.
This compared with an increase of 70% in 2009-2010; 63% in 2008-2009 and a 110% jump in 2007-2008. In 2009-2010, murders jumped 70%; 2008-2009 saw a 63% rise and there was a 110% jump in 2007-2008.
However, correspondents note that the figures for 2011 are for a nine-month period rather than a whole year. But with the 2011 figures running just until September, the overall number of murders could be some 16,000.
The PGR said that the murders were concentrated in some eight of Mexico's 32 states. The PGR said that the violence was concentrated in a quarter of Mexico's states.
Ciudad Juarez continues to be among the most violent municipalities, with 1,206 murders, although this was a sharp drop on the estimated 2,500 killings the year before. Cartel control
There have been improvements in security in some areas, including the border city of Tijuana.
Ciudad Juarez, also on the US-Mexico, continues to be among the most violent municipalities, with 1,206 murders, although this was a sharp drop on the estimated 2,500 killings the year before.
However, experts say the decline in killings may be the result of one cartel exerting overall control rather than specific success by the military or police.
Last year also saw drug violence spread to previously calm areas, including the eastern port city of Veracruz.
The capital, Mexico City, had also been relatively untouched.
But on Wednesday, two decapitated bodies were found inside a burning vehicle outside an upmarket shopping centre in the Santa Fe district of Mexico City.
Two heads were found in front of the car.
The government stresses that Mexico's murder rate is still lower than several nations, including Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil and Venezuela.