Mexican police protest against joining new national guard

Members of the Federal Police protest against the government's decision to force them to become members of a newly formed National Guard, outside the headquarters of the Federal Police in Mexico City, Mexico, July 3, 2019. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Officers of the Mexican federal police protested on Wednesday against the newly created National Guard, saying their superiors had threatened firings if they did not join the security force, in which they face pay cuts and loss of seniority benefits.

The demonstrations spotlighted the concerns of several hundred officers over being absorbed into President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's new militarised police, formed this year to root out gang violence entrenched nationwide.