Mexican Pres. Calderon Shakes Up Cabinet

Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced Monday the resignation of Attorney General Eduardo Medina-Mora, his point-man in the offensive against drug cartels, but gave no indication that the current strategy of full confrontation with the gangs would change.

At a ceremony announcing Cabinet changes, including the resignations of the agricultural secretary and head of the state-owned oil company, Medina-Mora predicted history would judge the tough approach with drug gangs as correct.

"The strategy for recovering the public's security and the tactic of changing the way things were have been correct," he said. "Progress has unquestionably been made. The historic decision to use all the power of the state to put a stop to the power of the criminal organizations was fundamental to ensure our future as a nation."

"History will have to recognize the correctness and valor of this decision," Medina-Mora said, referring to an offensive launched when Calderon took office in late 2006 and in which 13,500 people have been killed in drug-related violence.

Cabinet changes at midterm are not unusual in Mexico. Calderon, whose term runs from 2006 to 2012, gave no explanation for the officials leaving, although there had been rumors for some time that Medina-Mora would be giving up his post.

Medina-Mora was highly praised by U.S. law enforcement officials. A top U.S. police source in Mexico said that there was no evidence Medina-Mora was involved in corruption. The official asked not to be named for fear of being targeted by drug cartels.

While Medina-Mora was never accused of corruption, there have been major scandals at the justice department, including the 2008 arrest of his subordinate, former drug czar Noe Ramirez, for allegedly accepting at least $450,000 from a member of a cartel in exchange for passing on information about police operations.

Calderon said he will nominate lawyer Arturo Chavez to replace Medina Mora, and indicated the fight against the gangs won't stop. He said Chavez "has wide experience in law and specifically in combatting organized crime."

Chavez was not present at the ceremony. Calderon must submit his nomination for the attorney general's job to the Senate for ratification. Medina Mora will be assigned to as yet unspecified foreign post.

Jose Luis Pineyro, a drug expert at Mexico's National Autonomous University, said the change could indicate some change in the government's tactics in the drug fight, which have sparked bloody reprisal attacks by cartels.

"Perhaps this change in the AG office could be an attempt to change the anti-crime strategy and adopt a tactic that a lot of my colleagues have suggested," Pineyro said. "As long as there is a lack of attention to attacking the financial nerve center and property of organized crime, you're not going to make progress."

Former top anti-drug prosecutor Samuel Gonzalez said that Medina Mora's performance had been "average" and that "change was necessary."

Calderon also announced the resignations of Agriculture Secretary Alberto Cardenas and the director of the oil monopoly, Petroleos Mexicanos, Jesus Reyes Heroles.

All three officials had been in the Cabinet since the start of Calderon's term.

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