British police say permanently armed officers are patrolling crime-blighted London neighbourhoods, a major change in United Kingdom law enforcement.

London's police department said Friday that a new unit was operating in a district of north London riven by gun battles between rival drug gangs, and other areas that have suffered a wave of gangland shootings.

British police have never routinely carried firearms on patrol. Guns are usually handled only by dedicated teams of police marksmen.

Chief Inspector Neil Sharman said the new unit would allow London police to take "a more proactive approach to deal with weapons on our streets".

But some lawmakers have criticised the change, saying the tactic could exacerbate the use of firearms by criminals.

A new unit is operating in a district of north London riven by gun battles between rival drug gangs, and other areas that have suffered a wave of gangland shootings.

EU completes extradition pact with US

BRUSSELS (AP):

The European Union's 27 justice ministers say a new extradition pact with the United States will enter into force in February.

The ministers finalised ratification of the new extradition and mutual assistance deal at talks in Luxembourg on Friday. The pact comes in wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Under the deal, the United States will not impose the death penalty on suspects extradited from the EU.

The accord will supplement the treaties Washington has already signed with EU nations bilaterally and will enable the bloc to handle extradition requests through one simplified procedure.

The accord will supplement the treaties Washington has already signed with EU nations bilaterally and will enable the bloc to handle extradition requests …

Former Mexican cartel leader faces US court

DENVER (AP):

A former leader of Mexico's powerful Sonora drug cartel faces a United States court hearing to determine whether he will plead guilty to drug charges.

Miguel Angel Caro Quintero was extradited from Mexico earlier this year to face charges he smuggled marijuana into the US in 1987. He faces racketeering and drug charges from Arizona and Colorado.

His attorney said earlier this month that Caro Quintero was ready to admit he supplied tons of marijuana smuggled into the US. But a judge delayed a plea hearing and asked for more specifics on the plea agreement.

Caro Quintero's brother, Rafael Caro Quintero, is in prison for the torture-slaying of US Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena Salazar.

State and local officials have staged a series of crackdowns against street gangs they accuse of running drugs and terrorising neighbourhoods with drug sales …