Calderon wants US to do more in drugs war

Mexican President Felipe Calderon is calling for the US to do more to reduce the demand for drugs that is fuelling violence in Mexico.



Speaking during an interview on the BBC’s HARDtalk programme Calderon said more should also be done to stem the flow of illegal weapons from the US.



More than 28,000 people have died in drug violence in Mexico since 2006.



Meanwhile, President Calderon and other regional leaders have urged Californian voters to reject moves to legalise marijuana in their state.



Californians are to vote next week on a measure known as Proposition 19, which seeks to legalise recreational marijuana use.



The California vote, scheduled for November 2, was a key issue as Latin American leaders met in the Colombian city of Cartagena to discuss co-operation in tackling drug trafficking and other issues.



Calderon and his counterparts from Colombia and Costa Rica, Juan Manuel Santos and Laura Chinchilla, said legalisation of cannabis in California would send a contradictory message.