Mexico's drug war

An armed man belonging to a local self-defense group patrols from the back of a pick-up truck in the town of Buenavista, Mexico, May 20, 2013.

Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers.

The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies.

Men belonging to a local self-defense group enter a ranch to recover cattle allegedly stolen by the Knights Templar drug cartel near the town of Cualcoman, Mexico, May 20, 2013.

A mask and spikes for puncturing tires lay next to the feet of armed men from a local self-defense group as they ride in a pick-up truck near the town of La Ruana, Mexico, May 19, 2013.

A photograph taken by members of La Ruana Community Police shows bullet-riddled vehicles with markings of the Knights Templar drug gang sitting, disabled, after a gunfight near La Ruana, Mexico, May 19, 2013.

According to La Ruana Community Police, a post manned by them and the Mexican army opened fire on a convoy of the Knights Templar when they tried to enter the town. Dozens of Knights Templar members and four community policemen were killed in the gunfight.

Soldiers are escorted by residents and armed members of a local self-defense group into the town of Buenavista as a guarantee of good faith as both sides negotiate the release of four of their self-defense members who were arrested by authorities earlier in the day in Buenavista, May 22, 2013.

Residents of this town, who have taken up arms to defend their community against drug gangs, protested the detention of members of their group the day after they welcomed the arrival of the army and agreed to stop community patrols but announced that they would keep their weapons.

Hipolito Mora, leader of a local self-defense movement, stands as residents protest extortion fees and kidnappings by the Knights of Templar drug cartel in La Ruana, Mexico, May 19, 2013.

Armed men belonging to a local self-defense group patrol the entrance to the town of Buenavista, Mexico, May 20, 2013.

One of four community policemen, who was later detained by authorities, wears a mask in Buenavista, Mexico, May 22, 2013.

Buenavista residents, who have taken up arms to defend their community against drug gangs, protested the detention of four self-defense group members, a day after they welcomed the arrival of the army and agreed to stop community patrols but announced that they would keep their weapons.

Armed guards stand with their weapons at the entrance to the town of Buenavista, May 22, 2013.

Residents of western Mexican towns who endured months besieged by a drug cartel are cheering the arrival of hundreds of Mexican army troops.

Hundreds of people in the state of Michoacan have taken up arms to defend their villages against drug gangs, a vigilante movement born of frustration at extortion, killings and kidnappings in a region wracked by violence.

A vehicle painted to look like an army truck and with the "X" markings associated with the Knights Templar drug gang, sits, disabled, after a gunfight near La Ruana, Mexico, May 19, 2013.

According to La Ruana Community Police, a post manned by them and the Mexican army opened fire on a convoy of the Knights Templar when they tried to enter the town. Dozens of Knights Templar members and four community policemen were killed in the gunfight.

Armed men belonging to a local self-defense group guard the entrance to the town of La Ruana, Mexico, May 19, 2013.

Local self-defense squads watch as Mexican army soldiers enter the town of La Ruana, Michoacan, Mexico, May 20, 2013.

A masked man belonging to a local self-defense group sits with his weapon as he guards the town of Cuemalco, Mexico, May 20, 2013.

Soldiers are escorted into the town of Buenavista by residents and armed members of a local self-defense group as a show of good faith while both sides negotiate the release of four self-defense group members who were arrested by authorities earlier in the day, in Buenavista, Mexico, May 22, 2013.

Mexican army soldiers enter the town of La Ruana, Michoacan, Mexico, May 20, 2013.

Residents burn a military banner with a message that reads in Spanish, "Mexican military in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime," in Buenavista, Mexico, May 22, 2013.

An armed man from a local self-defense group stands with his weapon at the entrance of the town of Buenavista, Mexico, May 20, 2013.

Armed members of a local self-defense group escort dozens of soldiers into their town of Buenavista as a show of good faith while both sides negotiate the freedom of four self-defense members who were arrested earlier in the day, in Buenavista, Mexico, May 22, 2013.

A masked protestor stands near a checkpoint manned by Mexican military just outside Buenavista, Mexico, May 22, 2013.

A group of armed guards stands at the entrance to the town of La Ruana, Michoacan, Mexico, May 20 2013.