U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the release of new funds at a meeting of 12 regional countries and donor nations. Some of the money was previously allotted or is being repackaged from other programs, but the total figure represents a more than 10 percent jump from last year's aid of $260 million, U.S. officials said.

"We know the statistics — the murder rates surpassing civil war levels," Clinton said.

The gathering in Guatemala's capital aims to find a coordinated strategy to fight the growing threat posed by the cartels. Altogether donors pledged close to $1 billion.

Years of U.S.-backed anti-drug crackdowns in Mexico and Colombia have pushed traffickers into Central American countries wedged in between. The problem has grown almost unchecked in a region beset by corruption, poverty and underfunded police forces.

AP