STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS AGAINST TRAVEL TO MEXICO, URGES AMERICANS TO
AVOID PARTS OF CHIHUAHUA

The U.S. State Department re-issued a travel warning for Mexico on
Monday, cautioning Americans to avoid unnecessary travel to parts of
the state of Chihuahua, including the Valley of Juarez.

A "travel warning" is more severe than the previously issued travel
alerts. The State Department said travel warnings are issued due to
long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable.

The warning cited drug violence in various regions of northern Mexico.
The warning specifically mentioned Juarez, the Valley of Juarez and
the northwestern part of state of Chihuahua, which have been a
battleground in a fight between drug cartels.

The current Mexico warning was issued March 14 and renewed Monday.
Mexico is listed along such countries as Haiti, Colombia and many
nations from the Middle East and Africa.

A few weeks ago, Juarez officials said that security was being
increased in tourist zones in an effort to lure back visitors to what
is the most dangerous city in Mexico.

Federal police last week took over control from the military of
Coordinated Operation Chihuahua in the city.

About 670 people have been killed this year in Juarez, raising the
total to about 4,900 people slain in the Juarez area since 2008.

On Monday evening, the killings continued. A man identified as Saul
Garcia was shot and killed by gunmen with AK-47s in the Felipe Angeles
area in west Juarez.

In another case, a woman was shot and killed while sitting down at a
car race on Sunday night. Chihuahua state police identified her as
34-year-old Claudia Mora Quintana.

A Juarez news Web site showed a message left spray-painted on a wall
stating, "And we also killed Claudia Mora the one who was with the AA.
Sincerely, the Juarez cartel."

AA refers to the Artistas Asesinos or Artist Assassins gang that is
apparently allied with the rival Sinaloa drug cartel.