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Top Security Officer Quits After Mexican Jailbreak

Mexican state's top security official resigns after 53 inmates break out of prison

The top security chief of a central Mexican state has resigned after 53 inmates escaped from a prison with the alleged complicity of guards.

Zacatecas Gov. Amalia Garcia announced the resignation of Alejandro Rojas in a statement Friday that was only one sentence long. Her government has not said whether he is being investigated in the jailbreak.

Rojas had only been in the post for two months.

Security camera footage shows that guards at the Cieneguillas prison stood by as 53 inmates walked out with an armed gang that had driven up in several vehicles. About a dozen of the fugitives are drug cartel suspects

The prison director and all 44 guards on duty have been jailed pending an investigation into their possible complicity.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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