Mexico City, May 4 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Mexico is a country riddled with violence and while the war against drugs declared in 2006 has left close to 70,000 deaths, in recent days a spike in crime-related clashes and actions have been registered in various states, including Jalisco, Guanajuato, Colima and again in Guerrero, where a total of over 13 people have died, two have been kidnapped and three soldiers disappeared.

In the northern state of Jalisco, the local authorities decided on Sunday to lift a red alert decreed after the violent actions of crime groups that left seven dead, 19 injured, an army helicopter gunned down, various vehicles set ablaze, as well as gasoline stations, banks and other businesses.
“The security situation in Jalisco is now in a preventive phase, which means that it is no longer necessary for security forces of all levels of government to operate under a unified command, although they will continue to be coordinated through their respective commands,” said Jalisco government spokesman Gonzalo Sanchez. “There is no further indication that we need to maintain the red alert,” he added.

The state of emergency lasted about 60 hours. In the meantime, the Mexican army said it widened the search for three military personnel that went missing after their helicopter was shot at and forced to land in critical condition, which caused the death of three soldiers and injuries to 12 more.

Most of the violence in Jalisco was reported in the state's capital Guadalajara, the second largest city of the country.