Mexico's supreme court said Tuesday that soldiers accused of human rights abuses may face civil trials instead of closed door military tribunals. The supreme court ruling follows an international tribunal recommendation.

Some Mexican soldiers involved in the war on organized crime and the drug cartels have been accused various infractions including firing on civilians at checkpoints, illegal searches and detentions.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered Mexico to reform its military justice system based on a 1970s-era case involving a guerilla sympathizer who was detained by the military and never seen again.

Shortly after taking office in 2006, President Felipe Calderon deployed tens of thousands of troops to take on the powerful drug traffickers. The escalating drug war has caused nearly 40,000 deaths.