Gruesome mass graves, relentless drug cartels and emerging vigilantes have put Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's pledge to reduce violence to the test in his first year in power. Pena Nieto has sought to switch world attention to economic issues since taking office on December 1, 2012, passing education, telecommunications and fiscal reforms as part of his drive to "transform" Latin America's second biggest economy. But despite his efforts to focus on the economy, security remains in the spotlight after more than 70,000 people were killed in drug violence during his predecessor's six-year term. "The numbers for these first 11 months are encouraging," Pena Nieto said on November 7.
