10 arrested in Mexican police chief's killing

GARCIA, Mexico -- Five police officers and five other suspects were arrested Thursday in the investigation into the assassination of an army general who had been appointed police chief of this northern Mexican town over the weekend.

Brig. Gen. Juan Arturo Esparza was the latest military officer killed after taking over a Mexican municipal police force plagued with corruption. President Felipe Calderon has acknowledged that police forces throughout Mexico are rife with officers in the pay of cartels, and he has relied heavily on the military to fight drug trafficking.

A group of gunmen, believed to belong to the Gulf cartel, arrived at the home of Mayor Jaime Rodriguez to give him a “scare” Wednesday, Garza y Garza said at a news conference. As the group was leaving, they crossed paths with Ezparza, who was driving to the mayor's home after hearing about the threat.

The gunmen sprayed Ezparza's car with bullets, killing him along two former soldiers and two municipal police officers escorting the general, Garza y Garza said. The mayor said told reporters Wednesday he heard the gunshots from his home.

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