Calderon: no apologies for war against drug cartels

Mexican president Felipe Calderon met face-to-face with victims of drug-related crimes yesterday, telling them that while he regrets the extensive loss of lives, he won't apologise for deploying thousands of federal forces to fight drug cartels - a four-year effort many blame for increasing the violence.

Mr Calderon and his security cabinet met in Mexico City with poet Javier Sicilia and relatives of people who have died or disappeared since he launched a crackdown against organised crime shortly after taking office.

Sicilia remarked during the encounter that Mr Calderon is "obligated to apologise to the nation and in particular to the victims." But Mr Calderon said he wouldn't apologise "for having acted against the criminals that are acting against the victims."