MEXICO CITY -- President Felipe Calderon is denying that Mexico is a failed state.

In an interview with The Associated Press, he rejected reports by the U.S. government that questioned whether the Mexican government is losing control of its territory to drug cartels.

"To say that Mexico is a failed state is absolutely false," Calderon said. "I have not lost any part -- any single part -- of Mexican territory."

He vowed Thursday to win the war against the world's most powerful drug gangs before his term ends in 2012.

In interviews with The Associated Press, Calderon and his top prosecutor said the violence that killed 6,290 people last year -- and more than 1,000 in the first eight weeks of 2009 -- is a sign that the cartels are under pressure from military and police operations nationwide, as well as turf wars among themselves.

The state department issued a warning to anyone traveling in the area.

It said that "common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable."

Calderon told the AP Thursday that the U.S. government should do more to fight corruption north of the border.

U.S. government reports have recently sounded the alarm on rising violence in Mexico. One said Mexico and Pakistan were at risk of becoming failed states if the violence continues.