19 Jul 2009

10 police arrested over killings of federal officers

2:11 pm on 19 July 2009

Ten policemen have been arrested in Mexico in connection with the murder of 12 federal police officers.

Their bodies were found last week near a road in the western state of Michoacan.

Officials have suggested the killings were in retaliation for the capture of a high-ranking member of the La Familia (The Family) cartel.

Michoacan is the home state of President Felipe Calderon. The government has ordered 5500 soldiers and police into the state.

The state governor has protested against the "military occupation".

La Familia is battling another cartel known as the Zetas, for control of Michoacan.

In May, 10 mayors and a number of police chiefs were accused of working for La Familia.

Some 12,800 people have been killed since President Calderon took office in 2006.