MEXICAN OFFICIAL ASKS ARMY'S AID AMID DRUG WAR

Gov. Natividad Gonzalez of Nuevo Leon state, on the border with
Texas, asked the army to set up road checkpoints on Wednesday after
four brutal killings that appear to be linked to a bloody turf war
between rival drug gangs.

Gonzalez's request came hours after at least two assailants shot a
man to death in broad daylight at a car wash in Monterrey, the state capital.

On Monday, Monterrey police found two corpses, including one that had
been decapitated.

On Sunday, at least 15 gunmen shot at the car of federal investigator
Veronica Palacios, seriously injuring her and killing a female passenger.

Army checkpoints already are used in several Mexican states,
including neighboring Tamaulipas state, where there have been more
than 100 drug-related killings this year.

Soldiers also regularly accompany federal agents in raids against
drug traffickers across Mexico. State police said they did not know
the identity of Wednesday's victim, who was shot four times.

The victim found beheaded on Monday has been identified as
17-year-old Julio de Leon of Nuevo Laredo, across the river from
Laredo, Texas. Next to the body were two notes addressed to reputed
drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Investigators say the Sinaloa Cartel is fighting the Gulf Cartel for
billion-dollar drug smuggling routes into the U.S.