Mexicans protest army ops against drug gangs

[Judi Lynn]

Mexicans protest army ops against drug gangs
Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:35pm EST

By Robin Emmott

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Hundreds of Mexicans blocked roads and bridges into the United States on Tuesday in a protest of army operations against drug gangs that officials said was organized by the drug cartels.

About 300 protesters, some with handkerchiefs tied over their faces, carried signs saying "Army Get Out!" in front of the town hall in the northern city of Monterrey, 130 miles from the Texan border, the largest in a series of anti-army protests this week.

In a growing challenge to the military across Mexico, small groups of taxi drivers also blocked bridges that connect the border cities of Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo with Texas, stopping vehicles and foot passengers, police said.

Hundreds of miles away, another 300 people blocked highways in the Gulf city of Veracruz to pressure the military to go back to their bases.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE51G6QY20090217?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=401