Mexico

Hundreds of people in Mexico have blocked key crossings into the US in protests against the deployment of the army fighting drug traffickers. Traffic was brought to a halt on a number of bridges in several border towns in northern Mexico. The protesters accused the army of abuse against civilians. Government officials said the blockades had been organized by drug gangs. The army was sent into border towns in 2006 to control rising drug violence. More than 5,000 people were killed in drug-related violence last year, Mexican officials say. (BBC)