Report: Mexico commits rights abuse

MEXICO CITY (AP) - A humans rights group said it has documented more than 200 cases of torture, forced disappearances and killings by security forces in Mexico's war on organized crime.

Human Rights Watch said that the government's strategy has exacerbated violence and fear rather than increasing security. The report issued Wednesday calls torture of suspects "endemic" and said claims of human rights violations have climbed.

The report says that soldiers, prosecutors and medical examiners have obstructed some investigations, and convictions of alleged abusers are rare.

Attorney General Marisela Morales said human rights and transparency have improved under President Felipe Calderon, who has sent more than 45,000 troops to fight cartels since 2006.