Americas News
Mexico abolishes death penalty
By DPA
Dec 11, 2005, 19:00 GMT

Mexico City - Mexico has outlawed its long-dormant death penalty, setting itself apart from its northern neighbour - the United States.

President Vicente Fox announced the decree, based on a constitutional change approved by the Mexican Senate in a 79-2 vote last March.

'Through the reform of our constitution, the ultimate penalty has been stricken from our laws,' Fox said Friday.

Mexico last executed a prisoner in 1961, but Mexico and the U.S. have clashed repeatedly over the years over Mexicans sentenced to die by U.S. courts.

In 2002, Fox cancelled a visit to U.S. President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, after Texas executed a Mexican convicted of fatally shooting a police officer.

Fox argued that the Javier Suarez Medina was denied access to Mexican consular officials, which the U.S. was obligated to grant under an international treaty.