Money and weapons coming from the US are helping fuel the violent drug war in Mexico, according to Mexican ambassador to the country.

In an interview with CBS on Sunday, Arturo Sarukhan attributed 90% of the weapons in Mexico to the US, saying the influx of guns is due to the expiration of an assault-weapons ban in the US in 2004.

Mexico has "seen a dramatic rise of assault weapons being seized" in the country since the law expired, Sarukhan noted.

The Mexican envoy wondered how the US can "shut down those guns and shut down that bulk cash that is providing the drug syndicates in Mexico with the wherewithal to corrupt, to bribe, to kill."

Almost 7,000 people have died in the country's drug violence since the start of 2008.

Last month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed financing for US-made Blackhawk helicopters on top of a 1.4-billion-dollar US plan to help train and equip Mexican anti-drug forces, which still needs to be approved by Congress.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Mexico ahead of his trip to Trinidad and Tobago for a first summit with Latin American leaders on April 17.

AGB/DT