US ambassador to Mexico resigns amid uproar over leaked cable criticizing Mexico's drug fight

The U.S. ambassador to Mexico resigned Saturday amid furor over a leaked diplomatic cable in

which he complained about inefficiency and infighting among Mexican security forces in the

campaign against drug cartels.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in Paris to meet with U.S. allies on Libya,

said Carlos Pascual's decision to step down was "based upon his personal desire to ensure the

strong relationship between our two countries and to avert issues" raised by President Felipe

Calderon.

Clinton didn't say specifically what she was referring to, but a furious Calderon has

publicly criticized Pascual's cable, which was divulged by the WikiLeaks website.

Pascual's resignation — less than two weeks since President Barack Obama met with Calderon

at the White House — appeared to be the biggest fallout yet from thousands of sensitive U.S.

diplomatic cables from around the world released by WikiLeaks. It was the first such public

departure by a U.S. ambassador during the Obama administration.

Mexico's government offered a polite and muted response, offering "its best wishes to

Ambassador Carlos Pascual in the duties he will undertake after concluding his post in our

country."

"Institutional contacts between both countries are solid, as it should be between the

neighboring and friendly countries with common goals," Calderon's office said in a statement.

"The Mexican government reiterates its commitment to consolidating the principles of shared

responsibility, trust and mutual respect as the basis of bilateral ties with the United

States."

Clinton took the unusual step of announcing the departure of an individual member of the

diplomatic corps, and while she was on the road meeting with U.S. allies to discuss the

commencement of military attacks on Moammar Gadhafi's Libyan government.

She went to lengths to praise Pascual's work in Mexico and said the Obama administration

never lost confidence in him. Clinton said Pascual's work with Mexico to build institutions

capable of fighting drug traffickers "will serve both our nations for decades."

She added that she was "particularly grateful to Carlos for his efforts to sustain the morale

and security of American personnel after tragic shootings in Mexico" that killed a U.S.

employee, her husband and a Mexican tied to the consulate in the border city of Ciudad Juarez

last year.

"It is with great reluctance that President Obama and I have acceded to Carlos's request" to

step down, Clinton said in a statement.

The ambassador's resignation, however, laid bare how difficult relations between the U.S.

Embassy and the Mexican government had become since the release of the cable in December.

Calderon has made no secret of his personal anger at Pascual.