San Felipe, Baja, Mexico

MÉXICO, D.F.(SUN)

President Felipe Calderón said in an interview with the American newspaper The New York Times that many members of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) think that deals of the past with organized crime might work now and that it would be disturbing if that view prevailed.

He said that many in the Tricolor are in accordance with the policy of combating drug cartels undertaken by his Government, at least in private, but pointed out that "there are many in the PRI who think deals of the past would work now".

"I do not see what treatment could be done [with criminal gangs], but that is the mentality of many [of the PRI]."

"If that view prevails, I worry", said the federal executive, according to extracts from a conversation with the correspondents of the New York journal.

When asked if he believes that he will be remembered as the President responsible for the irruption of violence in his country, Calderón replied, "It is possible that some will remember me for that, or wish that I be remembered for that.

"But if Mexico succeeds, as I am sure it will, if Mexico has new institutions in the future, if Mexico defeats the criminals, if Mexico reconstructs its social fabric, there will also be those who will remember me as the President who challenged the criminals and marked the long road for the institutional reconstruction of the country."

In response to what was said by the President, the National President of the PRI, Humberto Moreira, told a newspaper with national circulation that statements by Calderón reflect "the electoral security policy use".

He challenged the federal executive to name who it was who had made a pact with organised crime and said that the position of the PRI is to combat crime with intelligence and absolute respect for human rights.