Mexican soldiers began patrolling in Monterrey, capital of northern Mexican state Nuevo Leon, on Tuesday to fight the spreading violence in recent days, local media reported.

Col. Alberto Gonzalez, Monterrey's public security secretary, told local media that a light tank, a truck and six normal vehicles would facilitate the patrol.

Monterrey's Santa Catarina neighborhood has witnessed three murders since Sunday in which two police officers and a city transport director were killed. Another police officer was murdered in Monterrey's San Nicolas on Saturday.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon in February ordered 2,500 soldiers to be deployed in Nuevo Leon and its neighboring Tamaulipas state to fight drug trafficking and violence.

Source: Xinhua