Mexican Mayor Sworn in, Killed a Day Later

The mayor of a city south of Mexico's capital was shot to death on Saturday, less than a day after taking office, officials said. Gunmen burst into the house of Mayor Gisela Mota in the city of Temixco and killed her, said the government of Morelos state, where Temixco is located. Two presumed assailants were killed and two others detained, said Morelos Gov. Graco Ramirez in the government statement. Officials attributed her killing to organized crime. Mota's leftist Democratic Revolution Party released a statement describing her as "a strong and brave woman who on taking office as mayor, declared that her fight against crime would be frontal and direct."

Temixco, which has seen kidnappings and extortion linked to organized crime groups, is the seat of several state institutions including the Public Security Commission, which coordinates state and local police forces. Mota, who had been a federal congresswoman, was sworn into office on New Year's Day. She was killed the following day. Ramirez vowed there "would be no impunity" in her killing and promised that state officials would confront organized crime. Officials said that when the suspects were detained, authorities found a 9-millimeter gun, an Uzi, ski masks, and an SUV with Mexico State license plates. Morelos Attorney General Javier Perez Duron said the detained suspects have been tied to other crimes, but declined to provide more details. (More Mexico stories.)