WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) -- As Mexico sees it, the U.S. has a big role to play in dealing with the violent drug cartels that are creating havoc along the border between the two countries.
Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. says Washington needs to help stop the flow of guns and cash that he says is allowing Mexican drug syndicates to bribe people, and to kill.
The ambassador (Artuor Sarukhan) told CBS that the use of assault weapons by the cartels rose dramatically after the U.S. ended its ban on those guns in 2004.
But he stopped short of calling on Congress to reinstate the ban.
He did say, though, that it could have a "profound impact" on the flow of weapons into Mexico.
The ambassador says Mexican officials believe 90 percent of the weapons that are seized in his country can be traced to the U.S.
President Barack Obama visits Mexico this week on his way to the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad.
The administration has said it's taking steps to provide more help to Mexico's fight against drug violence.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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