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A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 23 SepteMber 2024
U.S. not responsible for surge of violence in Sinaloa, American

ambassador tells Mexico

By MEGAN JANETSKY ing out at critics — said he
Associated Press was putting relations with
MEXICO CITY (AP) — U.S. Am- the U.S. and Canadian
bassador Ken Salazar reject- embassies "on pause" after
ed accusations by Mexico's ambassadors criticized his
president that the U.S. was controversial plan to over-
partly responsible for a surge haul Mexico's judiciary by
in cartel warfare in northern requiring all judges to stand
Sinaloa over the weekend. for election.
Sinaloa has been eclipsed Still, the Zambada capture
by violence as two warring has fueled criticisms of López
factions of the Sinaloa car- Obrador, who has through-
tel have clashed in the state out his administration refused
capital of Culiacan in what to confront the cartels and
appears to be a fight for has falsely stated that cartels
power since two of its lead- respect Mexican citizens and
ers were arrested in the U.S. largely fight amongst them-
in late July. selves.
"It is incomprehensible how Under López Obrador, who
the United States can be re- leaves office at the end of
sponsible for the massacres this month, cartels have em-
we see in different places," ployed an increasing array
Salazar said in a news confer- of weapons and tactics,
ence in Chihuahua on Sat- A blue sheet covers a body found lying on the side of a road in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, including roadside bombs,
urday. "What is being seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Associated Press trenches, home-made ar-
in Sinaloa is not the fault of mored vehicles and bomb-
the United States." they are scared to send their Sinaloa state since the fight- cision," López Obrador said. dropping drones. The crimi-
The arrests startled many be- children to school. ing started. López Obrador claimed nal organizations have also
cause it appeared that the Meanwhile, bodies have On Thursday, Mexican Presi- American authorities "car- seeped into new industries
son of notorious drug kingpin appeared across the city, dent Andrés Manuel López ried out that operation" to such as migrant smuggling
Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán often left slung out on the Obrador blamed American capture Zambada and that and the lucrative avocado
abducted an elder cartel fig- streets or in cars with either authorities in part for the "it was totally illegal, and business.
ure, Ismael "El Mayo" Zam- sombreros on their heads or bloodshed. agents from the Department While Mexican authorities
bada, and flew them both pizza slices or boxes pegged Asked at his morning brief- of Justice were waiting for said Saturday they had sent
to the U.S. to be detained. onto them with knives. The ing if the U.S. government Mr. Mayo." an additional 600 soldiers to
Such a violent outburst was pizzas and sombreros have was "jointly responsible" for Salazar had previously de- Sinaloa as reinforcements,
expected in the wake of the become informal symbols for this violence in Sinaloa, the nied that American officials Salazar cast blame for the
arrests. the warring cartel factions, president said, "Yes, of course were involved in the alleged surge of violence in the state
As the warring cartel factions underscoring the brutality of ... for having carried out this kidnapping. on Mexico's wider security
and authorities have clashed their warfare. operation." It was the latest blow to bi- crisis.
in firefights, helicopters reg- Local authorities said that as "If we are now facing insta- lateral relations between the "The reality is that there is a
ularly circle overhead and of Friday at least 53 people bility and clashes in Sinaloa, two regional allies. problem of insecurity and
military rove the streets of the had been killed and 51 oth- it is because (the American Last month, López Obrador violence" in Mexico, Salazar
capital. Families have said ers have gone missing in government) made that de- — a populist prone to lash- said.q

An explosion at a coal mine in eastern

Iran kills at least 34 workers

others, officials said Sun- believed to be trapped at otic scenes after the blast.
day, marking one of the a depth of 200 meters (650 "We were in the mine, work-
worst mining disasters in the feet) down a 700-meter ing. Suddenly there was
country's history as others (2,300-foot) tunnel. How- some smoke rising ... then
remained missing hours af- ever, figures kept changing I noticed I had difficulty
ter the blast. throughout Sunday regard- breathing," said one min-
The blast struck a coal mine ing the disaster in the rural er, whom state TV did not
in Tabas, about 540 kilome- area with some reports sug- identify. "I jumped off from
ters (335 miles) southeast gesting the death toll was the workshop and I scram-
of the capital, Tehran, on higher. bled until I reached some-
Saturday night. By Sun- A provincial emergency where (safe). My friends
In this photo released by Iranian Red Crescent Society, miners day, weeping miners stood official, Mohammad Ali Ak- (remained) in there."
and police officers are seen at the site of a coal mine where alongside mine cars that houndi, told the state-run Authorities blamed the
methane leak sparked an explosion on Saturday, in Tabas, brought up the bodies of IRNA news agency Sunday blast on a leak of meth-
some 540 kilometers (335 miles) southeastern of the capital,
Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. their colleagues, all cov- afternoon that the death ane gas. Such gases are
Associated Press ered in coal dust. toll had reached at least 34 common in mining, though
Around 70 people had as rescue efforts continued. modern safety measures
By NASSER KARIMI explosion in a coal mine in been working at the time Survivors interviewed by call for ventilation and
Associated Press eastern Iran killed at least of the blast. State televi- state TV, still smudged in other measures to protect
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An 34 workers and injured 17 sion later said that 17 were coal dust, described cha- workers. q