LA TIMES: "Mexican authorities on Tuesday blamed organized crime for the blasts in Morelia, the capital of Michoacan, a western state with a long history of drug trafficking. In the 21 months since Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared war on Mexico's powerful drug-smuggling networks, this was the first time civilians had been directly and indiscriminately targeted. And Mexicans were forced to confront a new kind of victim amid rising fears that, now, anyone is fair game."

MORE: "The explosions created pandemonium during one of Mexico's most beloved celebrations. The grito, a flag-waving commemoration of the 1810 declaration of war to break from Spanish rule, is held in plazas all over Mexico on Sept. 15, the eve of Independence Day."
[october '07 photo of downtown morelia by eugene hernandez]

More photos from last year's trip to Morelia, on Flickr.