US Ambassador to Mexico quits amid WikiLeaks furore

Mexico City (AP):

The US ambassador to Mexico resigned on Saturday amid furor over a leaked diplomatic cable in which he complained about inefficiency and infighting among Mexican security forces in the campaign against drug cartels.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in Paris to meet with US allies on Libya, said Carlos Pascual's decision to step down was "based upon his personal desire to ensure the strong relationship between our two countries and to avert issues" raised by President Felipe Calderón.

Clinton didn't say specifically what she was referring to, but a furious Calderón has publicly criticised Pascual's cable, which was divulged by the WikiLeaks website.

Pascual's resignation - less than two weeks since President Barack Obama met with Calderón at the White House - appeared to be the biggest fallout yet from thousands of sensitive US diplomatic cables from around the world released by WikiLeaks. It was the first such public departure by a US ambassador during the Obama administration.

There was no immediate reaction from the Mexican government, although an official from Calderón's office said there would be a response shortly.

One of the leaked diplomatic cables that most angered Calderón was dated Jan. 29, and referred to friction between Mexico's army and navy while detailing an operation that led to the death of drug lord Arturo Beltrán Leyva.

Pascual said the US, which had information locating Beltrán Leyva, originally took it to the army, which refused to move quickly. Beltrán Leyva was eventually brought down in a shoot-out with Mexican marines, which have since taken the lead in other operations against cartel capos.

Other US Embassy cables released since have reported jealousies and a lack of co-ordination between various Mexican security forces.

Their release has marred a relationship that both the United States and Mexico have for years touted as being stronger than ever.