Troops take over lawless Oaxaca

OAXACA - Thousands of riot police backed by helicopters and armoured trucks broke up burning barricades to seize Mexico's popular tourist city of Oaxaca yesterday, firing water cannons to disperse leftist protesters.

In the city's main square, hundreds of activists carrying metal poles and sticks braced for a showdown with the police, who gathered at the four corners of the plaza holding riot shields and wearing gas masks.

Hundreds more demonstrators surrounded six busloads of unarmed police in another part of the city, forcing them to flee and setting fire to the buses.

Mexico sent federal forces to seize the city, which striking teachers and activists have occupied since May to demand the state governor's resignation, after gunmen thought to be local police shot dead a US journalist and two other people on Saturday.

Protesters fled as armoured trucks flanked by riot police moved on the city centre, destroying barricades of burning tyres, rocks and old furniture. They fired water cannon at anyone in their way and swat teams with assault rifles followed behind them. Protesters threw rocks at the trucks as helicopters buzzed overhead.

Mexican Interior Minister Carlos Abascal said the operation was to restore order "after the worsening climate of violence". The protesters accuse Governor Ulises Ruiz of corruption and repressive tactics.

- REUTERS