WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States said Monday it was shocked at escalating attacks on police officers in Mexico, adding organized crime posed a "serious threat" to democratic institutions there.
"We're shocked by the escalating violence against Mexican law enforcement officials," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement read out at the daily press briefing.
"The recent murders of three high-level police officials by criminal syndicates and drug trafficking cartels are a brutal reaction to President (Felipe) Calderon's determination to fight organized crime," he said.
"They illustrate the serious threat these organizations pose to democratic institutions in Mexico," he said, adding Washington offered its condolences to the family and colleagues of the dead police officers.
He added that the United States gave its "whole and immediate support" to Mexico's fight against organized crime.
"Mexico's success in this struggle will be our success," he said, urging Congress to "fully fund" President George W. Bush's Merida initiative to help Mexico and Central America fight organized crime.
Gunmen assassinated a commander of Mexico City's anti-kidnapping police on Friday, the fourth top police authority slain in 10 days in Mexico City as the toll from a rising organized crime wave hit top brass.
The violence is believed to be mostly related to the government's stepped up fight against drug trafficking.
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