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Mexico axes death penalty
11/12/2005 12:09 - (SA)
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 on Friday.
Mexico last executed a prisoner in 1961, but Mexico and the US have clashed repeatedly over the years over Mexicans sentenced to die by US courts.
In 2002, Fox cancelled a visit to US 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 US was obligated to grant under an international treaty.
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