Mexico City , Mexico ( CNN ) -- On a visit to the border city of Ciudad Juarez , Mexico , President Felipe Calderon apologized to the families of 15 people killed in a massacre last month and promised residents that their input would form part of the strategy against drug-related violence . After meeting with the families , Calderon and local political and civic leaders presented a variety of ideas , critiques and proposals on how to stabilize a city that saw more than 2,500 killings last year and more than 230 so far this year . Juarez is one of the front lines in Calderon 's offensive against the country 's major drug trafficking organizations . The violence in Juarez is a result of a bloody turf war between the Juarez drug cartel and the Sinaloa cartel over lucrative smuggling routes into the United States . Many of the killings are between rival gangs , something that Calderon 's government hinted at in the aftermath of the January 31 massacre of a group of young partygoers that shocked the city . In this case , it turned out that mistaken identity was behind the incident and that the youths killed were innocent . On Thursday , Calderon apologized and gave his condolences to the victims ' families for suggesting that their children were somehow involved . The president also responded to criticism that the security strategy in Juarez was being imposed by politicians from afar with little understanding of their city . `` I come mostly to listen , '' Calderon said , adding `` we 're looking for solutions from Juarez because you are the ones living it . '' Representatives of different sectors of the city 's civil society -- security , human rights , religious -- took turns giving their proposals in front of Calderon and a tense crowd . Many speakers were interrupted by heckling or criticisms from the crowd . When Juarez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz addressed the measures his government has taken to secure the city , some in the crowd booed and responded that he resides on the other side of the border , in El Paso , Texas . Before the meeting , police forcibly removed some protesters that were lined up outside of the building where Calderon would speak . Several of the audience members interrupted the meetings by yelling protests against the way the young demonstrators were treated . Arturo Valenzuela , a doctor who represented the security sector , said that security operations in Juarez to date have failed . Calderon has dispatched thousands of soldiers and federal police officers to supplement local police forces . He recommended the appointment of one leader who would coordinate among local , state and federal agencies involved in securing the city . `` The way the operation is currently structured , it will never work , '' Valenzuela said . He also highlighted other security problems outside of the killings . Kidnappings increased 3,000 percent in 2009 , he said , and most business owners are extorted by organized crime . A speaker representing the human rights sector , Lorenza Patricia Galarza , said the military was responsible for 1,000 human rights violations and should be removed from Juarez . Calderon said he will not tolerate military abuses and challenged Galarza to present evidence of the abuses she cited . The military , at least for now , is not going anywhere , Calderon made clear . Violence in Juarez comes amid a backdrop of vastly increased numbers of homicides nationwide , as drug cartels battle each other and the Mexican government steps up its efforts to combat them . The government has not released official figures , but national media say 7,600 Mexicans lost their lives in the war on drugs in 2009 . Calderon said last year that 6,500 Mexicans died in drug violence in 2008 . Officials say more than 16,000 Mexicans have died since Calderon declared war on the drug cartels shortly after taking office in December 2006 .
Felipe Calderon meets with residents of Ciudad Juarez . The president of Mexico presents plan to stabilize city in wake of killings . Calderon apologizes , gives condolences to victims ' families for implicating their kids . Before meeting , police forcibly removed some protesters who were outside building .