Mexican mayor killed during Day of the Dead celebrations

"A mayor in Mexico's western state of Michoacan was shot dead in a plaza in front of dozens of people who had gathered for Day of the Dead festivities, authorities have said. The mayor of the Uruapan municipality, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, was gunned down Saturday night in the town's historic centre. He was rushed to a hospital where he later died, according to state prosecutor Carlos Torres Pina."

"A city council member and a bodyguard were also injured in the assault. The attack on the mayor was carried out by an unidentified man who shot him seven times, the federal security secretary, Omar Garcia Harfuch, told journalists. The weapon was linked to two armed clashes between rival criminal groups operating in the region, he added. No line of investigation is being ruled out to clarify this cowardly act that took the life of the mayor, Garcia Harfuch added."

"Michoacan is one of Mexico's most violent states and is a battleground between various cartels and criminal groups fighting for control of territory, drug distribution routes and other illicit activities. On Sunday, hundreds of Uruapan residents, dressed in black and holding up photographs of Manzo Rodriguez, took to the town's streets to accompany the funeral procession. They chanted Justice, justice. Out with Morena, a reference to the ruling party of the Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum."

The mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, was shot dead in the town's historic centre during Day of the Dead festivities and later died in hospital. A city council member and a bodyguard were injured in the attack. An unidentified assailant shot the mayor seven times; authorities linked the weapon to prior clashes between rival criminal groups. Officials said no line of investigation is being ruled out. Michoacan is a violent battleground for cartels fighting over territory and drug routes. Hundreds of residents attended the funeral procession, chanting for justice and criticizing the ruling party. The mayor had publicly accused state officials of corruption and sought federal help.

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