Felix Marquez / AP

Municipal policemen leave a police station after the entire police force was disbanded in the Gulf port city of Veracruz, Mexico, Wednesday Dec. 21, 2011.

AP reports:

The Veracruz state government said the decision is part of an effort to root out police corruption and start from zero in the state's largest city.

State spokeswoman Gina Dominguez said 800 police officers and 300 administrative employees were laid off. At a press conference, she said they can apply for jobs in a state police force, but must meet stricter standards for an agency with officers "who are better trained and more committed and who can deliver under our current security circumstances."

Read the full story here.

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In a previous PhotoBlog post Katie Cannon pointed out how pretty this area is. I’m glad that drug gangs aren’t putting up a fight. I hope the police units are well funded, and that this is just the beginning of a permanent police presence. I’m concerned that this effort might just be for show to placate those who are worried about security as Rio prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic games. It’s one thing to take ground. It’s another to keep it.

Silvia Izquierdo / AP

Brazilian armored vehicles move into Rocinha shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Nov. 13, 2011. Elite police units, backed by armored military vehicles and helicopters, invaded Rio de Janeiro's biggest slum in what experts say is the most important step yet in bringing security to Rio de Janeiro before it hosts the final matches of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. About 100,000 people live in Rocinha, the biggest drug distribution point in Rio.

Msnbc.com news services report

One resident applauded the move. "Tell the world we're not all drug traffickers! We're working people and now they're coming to liberate us," a man yelled as police rolled by.

Marisa Costa da Silva, 54, who runs a small candy shop at the base of the slum, was less sure. "Lord knows if there will be war or peace, or even if things will be better if police take this slum," she said. "We've heard they've been abusive to slum residents in other places they've taken. I have no idea what to expect." Read more…

Luiza Castro / AFP - Getty Images

(Left) A paramilitary police helicopter flies over Rocinha on Sunday. Security forces peacefully seized control of Rio's largest shantytown in a major assault to expel drug traffickers who had been ruling the area for 30 years.
(Right) Police commandos patrol a street of the Rocinha shantytown in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

Ricardo Moraes / Reuters

A policeman patrols the Rocinha slum while a boy holds a dog at the door of his house.

Ricardo Moraes / Reuters

A woman walks with her child in Rocinha slum, Nov. 14, 2011, after police units seized control of the shantytown. Officials say that peacekeeping units will be installed to keep drug gangs out.

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Alexandre Meneghini / AP

Professional clowns laugh for about 15 continuous minutes during a gathering under the slogan "Clowns for peace, a world without violence," as part of the International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2011. About 300 clowns posed for a group picture and then set about laughing on the premise that a world with more laughter will have less time or appetite for violence.

Alexandre Meneghini / AP

Professional clowns gather for the official photo at the International Clown Convention during a gathering under the slogan "Clowns for peace, a world without violence," in Mexico City, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2011.

Sashenka Gutierrez / EPA

A clown participates in the 16th International Clown Convention held in Mexico City, Mexico, 17 October 2011, where close to 1,000 clowns from Latin America and United States participate in several activities such as conferences, workshops and contests.

Alexandre Meneghini / AP

Professional clowns march through the streets after posing for the official photo at the International Clown Convention during a gathering under the slogan "Clowns for peace, a world without violence," in Mexico City, Wednesday Oct. 19, 2011.

AP reports:

MEXICO CITY — About 300 professional clowns in Mexico say they hope their 15-minute non-stop laugh-a-thon will make a contribution to world peace.

The clowns from Mexico and Central America are in Mexico City for a four-day convention to trade jokes and hone skills like making balloon figures.

They gathered Wednesday at Mexico City's Mother's Monument under the slogan "Clowns For Peace, A World Without Violence."

They posed for a group picture and then set about laughing, tee-heeing and guffawing for about 15 minutes, on the premise that a world with more laughter will have less time or appetite for violence.

The demonstration comes amid continuing violence in Mexico's drug war.

Normally, I wouldn't publish such a shocking image, but in this case, I think the news warrants it. The violence in Mexico has been rising and is now at a level where such a brazen act occurred in a highly populated area with witnesses. Estimates from various groups put the number of deaths at somewhere between 35,000 and 42,000 since President Calderon launched a campaign against drug cartels in late 2006.

Veracruz, a port city, has been relatively free from the kind of violence that has taken over other areas, especially the U.S. border cities, until now.  Continue to scroll to see the image.

AP reports:

Masked gunmen blocked traffic on a busy avenue in a Gulf of Mexico coastal city Tuesday and dumped the bodies of 35 slaying victims as horrified motorists watched, authorities said.  Continue reading...

Veracruz En Red / EPA

The crime scene where two trucks were found with 35 bodies along an avenue in Boca del Rio, Veracruz metropolitan zone, Mexico, on Sept. 20. According to authorities, the victims, 23 men and 12 women, were alleged members of Los Zetas cartel and were killed by their rivals of Gulf cartel.

Editor's note: This post contains graphic content which some viewers may find disturbing.

Reuters reports:

A suspected member of the Caballeros Templarios, a new spin-off cartel in Mexico's Michoacan state linked to the Gulf Cartel, and a soldier were killed after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of patrolling soldiers, according to local media.

Leovigildo Gonzalez / Reuters

The body of a gunman lies in the woods after a shootout with soldiers in Zirahuen, near Morelia, Mexico, on August 24.

Related content:

• Slideshow - Narco culture permeates Mexico, leaks across border
• Analysis - Mexico's splintering drug gangs pose new security risk