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Riot police have seized control of the Mexican city of Oaxaca after recent protests led to the death of one person.

Backed by helicopters and armoured tanks, thousands of police officers moved in to disperse the crowds and regain control of the region.

Oaxaca is a popular tourist destination and is home to some of Mexico's most interesting architecture and ancient ruins.

Unrest in the region has been brewing for the past five months, with tension growing over the rising poverty of many people in the rural areas that surround the city.

Restaurants and hotels in Oaxaca have been suffering as a result of the unrest and a number of owners were reportedly seen cheering and waving white flags out of their windows as the police moved in.

The hope is that now the police have control of the majority of the city, tourism will pickup again in the region.

Despite this, many of those involved in the riots are not backing down and one protestor had a chilling message for the government.

'Tomorrow there will be a blood bath,' 18-year-old Mario Jimenez told Reuters. '[Ulises] Ruiz [Oaxaca's state governor] has to resign so this problem doesn't go on any longer.'

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