Riot police backed by helicopters and armored trucks advanced on the Mexican tourist city of Oaxaca today, meeting little initial resistance from protesters demanding the removal of the state governor.
Hundreds of police in body armor and a SWAT team armed with assault rifles filled a road entering the town after overrunning a barricade made of smoldering giant tree trunks, apparently abandoned by protesters at the edge of the city.
The force was sent into the picturesque colonial town, where striking teachers and activists have occupied streets and buildings since May, after gunmen thought to be local police killed a US journalist and two other people on Friday.
Overnight, the protesters, who are pushing for the removal of state Governor Ulises Ruiz, abandoned many of the barricades they had built throughout the city and said they would avoid confrontation with the police.
The large police force stopped on the edge of the city to wait for more backup and a group of activists waved white flags and banners at them. Several raised their hands to show they were unarmed.
"This is the fault of just one man, Ulises Ruiz," said teacher Carlos Como, 39.
Other protesters shouted: "Put down your shields, we are brothers," as helicopters buzzed overhead.
The protesters have claimed that Ruiz was behind recent shootings, accusing him of corruption and repressing dissenters.
About a dozen people, mostly protesters, have been killed since activists took to the streets in a bid to topple Ruiz, who blames the protesters for the violence.
The crisis has escalated with frequent shots taken at the barricades built by the activists and teachers.
Oaxaca is now a major headache for outgoing President Vicente Fox, keen to avoid bloodshed but under pressure from the governor and local businessmen to break the protests.
He has vowed to end the crisis before handing over to President-elect Felipe Calderon on Dec. 1