Mexican church officials have helped arrange a truce between 2 warring drug cartels

Roman Catholic churchmen have helped arrange a truce between two warring drug cartels whose turf wars have blooded the state of Guerrero in southern Mexico, a priest said Thursday. Rev. José Filiberto Velázquez, who had knowledge of the negotiations but did not participate in them, said the talks involved leaders of the notoriously violent Familia Michoacana cartel and the Tlacos gang, which is also known as the Cartel of the Mountain. “The armed conflict that existed in the area where the attacks have occurred has ceased,” Velázquez said, though he acknowledged the agreement “hangs by a thread” and depends on the will of the gang leaders.