Fighting among the Zetas gang and other vicious drug cartels led to the deaths of more than 40 people whose bodies were found in three Mexican cities over a 24-hour span, a government official said Saturday.

Details.

[Hmm. This is the country that refuses to extradite a Mexican to the U.S. if the death penalty is available and protests executions that involve persons who didn't get notified of their right to contact their consul. Such a land of contrasts.]

More than 35,000 people have died since President Felipe Calderon stepped up the attack on organized crime in 2006, according to official figures. Some groups put the number at more than 40,000.