Gunmen Slaughter 39 in Mexico

The violence that has engulfed Mexico’s border towns for over a year claimed 39 more lives on Friday. More than 30 gunmen, believed to be linked to the country’s vicious drug cartels, descended on drug rehabilitation centers in two cities, killing at least 39 people. More than 60 people have been killed in rehab centers along the border over the last two years. Polive say the drug cartels use them to recruit hitmen and smugglers and murder those who do not cooperate. Many of the killings there are also matters of settling old debts. “Everyone is so scared now,” said a minister who gives weekly sermons at the rehab center.