Saturday, January 29, 2005
Mexico to stop violence against Americans
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) --
Mexico has assured the United States that it was committed to stopping the murders and disappearance of Americans in the country.
The State Department said Saturday it was in continuous contact with Mexican authorities, who have told us they are committed to addressing the problem of ... murders and disappearances of American citizens throughout Mexico.
The United States and Mexico are cooperating to resolve cases involving harm to American citizens, the statement added.
The assurance followed media reports that at least 27 Americans have been abducted along the border with Mexico in the past six months because of increased violence among drug traffickers.
Earlier this week, the State Department issued a travel warning, urging Americans to take extra-precautions while traveling in Mexico.
Of the 27, two were killed, 14 were released and 11 remain missing, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Thursday.
The abductions do not include express kidnappings in which Americans are forced to withdraw large sums of money from ATMs before they are released, Boucher said.
Mexico has assured the United States that it was committed to stopping the murders and disappearance of Americans in the country.
The State Department said Saturday it was in continuous contact with Mexican authorities, who have told us they are committed to addressing the problem of ... murders and disappearances of American citizens throughout Mexico.
The United States and Mexico are cooperating to resolve cases involving harm to American citizens, the statement added.
The assurance followed media reports that at least 27 Americans have been abducted along the border with Mexico in the past six months because of increased violence among drug traffickers.
Earlier this week, the State Department issued a travel warning, urging Americans to take extra-precautions while traveling in Mexico.
Of the 27, two were killed, 14 were released and 11 remain missing, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Thursday.
The abductions do not include express kidnappings in which Americans are forced to withdraw large sums of money from ATMs before they are released, Boucher said.
Suicidal OR Terrorist Act ?
Psychologically disturbed, Juan Manuel Alvarez is now facing the trial as he is accused of killing 11 people and injuring more than 180 as he parked his Jeep Grand Cherokee in front of a speeding Metrolink train at 6:02 in a suicide attempt. The 25-year-old man, Alvarez, may face the death penalty for his doings.
Prosecutors have charged Alvarez that he attempted to commit suicide by parking his vehicle on the track of southbound Metrolink but chickened out as he saw the approaching he train. He left the vehicle on the spot as it got wedged between the tracks.
Prosecutors have charged Alvarez that he attempted to commit suicide by parking his vehicle on the track of southbound Metrolink but chickened out as he saw the approaching he train. He left the vehicle on the spot as it got wedged between the tracks.
Colombia: Dog Cappo, held for drugs
The head of the sniffer dog unit at Bogota international airport has been arrested in raids against a drug ring run by an ex-police chief in Colombia. Drugs police believe Freddy Castro was paid to tip off smugglers when his dogs were taking breaks.
Colombia is the world's biggest cocaine producer and a major heroin supplier.
Colombia is the world's biggest cocaine producer and a major heroin supplier.
Fox Says U.S. Travel Alert Won't Harm Ties
"I believe that the relationship with the United States is strong enough and deep enough that it permits us to speak truthfully, and to stand by our respective positions when it is necessary to do so," Fox said during an interview with Spanish journalists.
A transcript of the interview was released publicly.
Mexican officials reacted angrily after the State Department issued a travel advisory on Wednesday alerting citizens of recent drug-trafficking and kidnapping violence on the Mexican side of the shared border.
"All of the issues on the bilateral agenda are still alive," Fox said, adding that he hoped for "important advances" on a migration accord that would grant legal status to millions of undocumented Mexicans living and working in the United States.
A transcript of the interview was released publicly.
Mexican officials reacted angrily after the State Department issued a travel advisory on Wednesday alerting citizens of recent drug-trafficking and kidnapping violence on the Mexican side of the shared border.
"All of the issues on the bilateral agenda are still alive," Fox said, adding that he hoped for "important advances" on a migration accord that would grant legal status to millions of undocumented Mexicans living and working in the United States.
Mexi- Angered by U.S. Criticism of Drug War
Interior Minister Santiago Creel rejected charges by the U.S. ambassador in Mexico that Mexican police were losing the battle against crime in the area, and Foreign Minister Ernesto Derbez discussed the matter with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice by telephone, government sources said.
Creel said the fight against organized crime on Mexican soil was a matter only for President Vicente Fox's government, which launched an assault last week against gangs taking orders from jailed drug lords.
"Here, Mexicans are in charge. We have friendly and neighborly relations and we are partners in a free trade agreement but that's it," Creel told the Televisa television network.
U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza said in his letter to Mexican government leaders that Mexican security forces were failing to control crime in the violent border area. "I worry that the inability of local law enforcement to come to grips with rising drug warfare, kidnappings and random street violence will have a chilling effect on the cross-border exchange, tourism and commerce so vital to the region's prosperity,"
At the end of the day, "Mexico can't afford to have an incident perpetrated in the United States by someone who entered through Mexico," said Armand B. Peschard-Sverdrup of the CSIS think tank in Washington.
Creel said the fight against organized crime on Mexican soil was a matter only for President Vicente Fox's government, which launched an assault last week against gangs taking orders from jailed drug lords.
"Here, Mexicans are in charge. We have friendly and neighborly relations and we are partners in a free trade agreement but that's it," Creel told the Televisa television network.
U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza said in his letter to Mexican government leaders that Mexican security forces were failing to control crime in the violent border area. "I worry that the inability of local law enforcement to come to grips with rising drug warfare, kidnappings and random street violence will have a chilling effect on the cross-border exchange, tourism and commerce so vital to the region's prosperity,"
At the end of the day, "Mexico can't afford to have an incident perpetrated in the United States by someone who entered through Mexico," said Armand B. Peschard-Sverdrup of the CSIS think tank in Washington.
Small Explosion at Wal-Mart Store in Mexico City
The tiny device was detonated in the parking lot of the Bodega Aurrera store owned by Wal-Mart's Mexico unit. Television images showed no damage was done.
