Spain pledged Saturday to send investigators to La Paz after its embassy staff were accused of trying to sneak into the Mexican diplomatic mission with several masked individuals, an action <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-slams-spains-bid-to-use-arms-in-diplomatic-row-270679">denounced by Bolivia</a> as a "violation" of its sovereignty.

Bolivia's foreign ministry said the incident occurred on Friday when "people identified as staff members at Spain's embassy in Bolivia, accompanied by people with their faces covered, tried in a secretive and underhand manner to enter Mexico's diplomatic residence in La Paz".

Although the alleged intruders were stopped by Bolivian police, Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said La Paz had complained to Madrid in a letter about its "abuse" of diplomatic privileges which constituted a "serious trampling of Bolivia's sovereignty".

The letter would also be sent to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/croatia-votes-for-president-set-to-lead-european-union-269511">European Union</a>, the Organization of American States and the United Nations, Longaric said.

"Spanish embassy diplomatic and security staff in Bolivia are not authorised to carry firearms or wear attire that conceals their identity," she said, denouncing such acts as "contravening diplomatic practices".

The Spanish government said it would send ministry staff to investigate the incident which it said took place on Friday as Cristina Borreguero, its charge d'affairs in La Paz, was visiting the Mexican mission.&nbsp;

"The foreign ministry has agreed to open an investigation into the incidents which occurred during a visit by Spain's charge d'affaires to the Mexican embassy in Bolivia," it said.&nbsp;

"We are going to send people from the ministry in Madrid for the investigation," a ministry spokeswoman told AFP.&nbsp;

The Mexican mission has been at the centre of an ongoing diplomatic row with La Paz after it took in around 20 former top officials who served under ousted president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivias-morales-arrives-in-argentina-to-get-refugee-status-268008">Evo Morales</a>.&nbsp;

Morales fled Bolivia last month after nearly 14 years in power following weeks of mass street protests.

The spat has seen Mexico accusing Bolivia's new interim government of "harassment and intimidation" for deploying a large contingent of police and intelligence officers outside the embassy.&nbsp;

Bolivia has been in turmoil since late October when Morales declared he had been re-elected following a disputed election marred by fraud. On November 10, after losing the army's backing, he resigned and fled to Mexico, and then to Argentina.

Spain pledged Saturday to send investigators to La Paz after its embassy staff were accused of trying to sneak into the Mexican diplomatic mission with several masked individuals, an action denounced by Bolivia as a "violation" of its sovereignty.

Spain pledged Saturday to send investigators to La Paz after its embassy staff were accused of trying to sneak into the Mexican diplomatic mission with several masked individuals, an action denounced by Bolivia as a "violation" of its sovereignty. Bolivia's foreign ministry said the incident occurred on Friday when "people identified as staff members at Spain's embassy in Bolivia, accompanied by people with their faces covered, tried in a secretive and underhand manner to enter Mexico's diplomatic residence in La Paz". Although the alleged intruders were stopped by Bolivian police, Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said La Paz had complained to Madrid in a letter about its "abuse" of diplomatic privileges which constituted a "serious trampling of Bolivia's sovereignty". The letter would also be sent to the European Union, the Organization of American States and the United Nations, Longaric said. "Spanish embassy diplomatic and security staff in Bolivia are not authorised to carry firearms or wear attire that conceals their identity," she said, denouncing such acts as "contravening diplomatic practices". The Spanish government said it would send ministry staff to investigate the incident which it said took place on Friday as Cristina Borreguero, its charge d'affairs in La Paz, was visiting the Mexican mission. "The foreign ministry has agreed to open an investigation into the incidents which occurred during a visit by Spain's charge d'affaires to the Mexican embassy in Bolivia," it said. "We are going to send people from the ministry in Madrid for the investigation," a ministry spokeswoman told AFP. The Mexican mission has been at the centre of an ongoing diplomatic row with La Paz after it took in around 20 former top officials who served under ousted president Evo Morales. Morales fled Bolivia last month after nearly 14 years in power following weeks of mass street protests. The spat has seen Mexico accusing Bolivia's new interim government of "harassment and intimidation" for deploying a large contingent of police and intelligence officers outside the embassy. Bolivia has been in turmoil since late October when Morales declared he had been re-elected following a disputed election marred by fraud. On November 10, after losing the army's backing, he resigned and fled to Mexico, and then to Argentina.

Spain to probe Mexico embassy incident that angered Bolivia

In the weeks before <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-do-it-trump-warns-russia-syria-iran-against-killing-civilians-in-idlib-270437">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a>’s declaration last month that he would forge ahead with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pulls-back-on-designating-mexico-cartels-as-terror-groups-266750">designating Mexican drug cartels</a> as foreign terrorist organisations, Cabinet members and top aides from across the government recommended against it, five people knowledgeable about the matter told Reuters.

The recommendations, which some of the sources described as unanimous, have not been reported previously. They were driven in part by concerns that such designations could harm US-Mexico ties, potentially jeopardizing Mexico’s cooperation with Trump’s efforts to halt illegal immigration and drug trafficking across the border, said two sources, including a senior administration official.

Another key concern was that the designations could make it easier for migrants to win asylum in the United States by claiming they were fleeing terrorism, the senior administration official and two other sources said.

Stephen Miller, one of the most influential White House advisers and the architect of Trump's policies to stem immigration, was among the officials who voiced concerns during deliberations that preceded two high-level meetings resulting in recommendations to shelve the designation plan, according to two of the sources.

The White House and Miller declined to comment on the record. All of the sources who spoke to Reuters requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly.

Reuters could not determine whether the president had been briefed on the recommendations before announcing, during a November&nbsp;26 interview with conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly, that he was going forward with the plan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Less than two weeks a later, on December&nbsp;9, the president tweeted that he was temporarily delaying the plan at Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s request.

The senior administration official portrayed the president’s announcement not as a reversal but as a strategic move.

“Even the threat of designation was extremely useful leverage in terms of obtaining further cooperation” from Mexico, the official said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The official said that reviving the plan remains “a live possibility” depending on Mexico’s cooperation on such issues as sealing the border to narcotics trafficking and controlling immigration.

The <a href="wionews.com/world/mexico-accuses-bolivia-of-intimidating-its-diplomats-in-la-paz-269871">Mexican government</a> has argued that equating drug cartels with Islamic State and al Qaeda could open the door to US&nbsp;military intervention.

In a meeting with Attorney General William Barr on December&nbsp;5, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-killed-2-injured-in-shooting-near-mexicos-presidential-residence-266902">President Lopez Obrador</a> expressed opposition to the designation plan, saying the Mexican constitution would not permit such foreign interference, a presidential spokesman told Reuters Tuesday. After the plan was delayed, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted his appreciation of Trump's decision, saying "there will be good results."

Crackdown hinged on cooperation

Trump has made halting illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking across the US-Mexican border a signature issue of his first term and his 2020 re-election campaign.

Designating a group as a foreign terrorist organization, or FTO, is aimed at disrupting its finances through sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on their members and associates. The State Department oversees the process.

The success of Trump’s immigration crackdown hinges, however, on Mexico’s cooperation. Earlier this year, Mexico agreed to deploy thousands of national guard troops to intercept migrants moving north toward the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-the-us-mexican-border-migrants-give-up-hope-of-crossing-269434">US&nbsp;border</a> after the American president threatened to impose escalating tariffs on Mexican goods.

In addition, Mexico has taken in tens of thousands of migrants sent back from the United States to await decisions on their US&nbsp;asylum requests.

The senior administration official said Trump and many top aides have wanted to crack down on cartel trafficking in narcotics and illegal immigration for some time and were looking at novel approaches, including the FTO designation plan.

The president and senior officials believed that they needed “to have an extremely aggressive posture toward the cartels and to look at using tools that had not been used before,” he said.

Two Republican members of the US&nbsp;House of Representatives introduced legislation in March that also would have established an FTO designation for cartels.

The Trump administration began working on its plan in late August, Trump told O’Reilly in the November&nbsp;26 interview, before declaring that&nbsp;the cartels “will be designated” as FTOs.

Unanimous opposition

A few weeks earlier, according to two former officials and another knowledgeable person, deputies to Cabinet members recommended in a meeting that the administration’s plan be shelved. The November&nbsp;8 meeting was held four days after nine American women and children died in an ambush linked to what Mexican officials asserted was a territorial dispute between rival gangs in northern Mexico.

Miller attended the meeting and the decision was unanimous, according to one source.

Participants at a November&nbsp;20 Cabinet-level meeting also advised against the proposal, according to four sources. That decision, too, was unanimous and Miller was there, two of the sources said.

The agencies represented at the meetings included the departments of State, Justice, Homeland Security, Defense, Treasury and Commerce, one administration official said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Numerous current and former US&nbsp;officials and other experts say that designating Mexican cartels as FTOs would be counter-productive.

Several pointed out that a 1999 law allowing US&nbsp;officials to designate foreign drug traffickers as narcotics kingpins already allow the imposition of sanctions similar to those authorized by an FTO designation.

The senior administration official said that US&nbsp;officials’ ability to use the 1999 law contributed to the decision to delay the FTO designation plan.

A December&nbsp;19 report published by the conservative Heritage Foundation warned that designating cartels as FTOs would weaken Trump’s immigration policies.

“A terrorist designation could allow unintended numbers to apply for political asylum in the US,” said the report. “The pool of applicants could logically extend beyond Mexico. While Mexican cartels’ territorial stronghold is within their own country, they have representatives on every continent except Antarctica.”

Jason Blazakis, who oversaw the designation process at the State Department’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau from 2008-2018, said that in addition to damaging <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-deports-mexicans-far-from-border-may-send-others-to-guatemala-269267">US-Mexican relations</a>, the FTO designation could hurt Mexico’s economy by prompting foreign businesses to leave the country or reconsider investing there.

Asset freezes and bans on travel to the US&nbsp;could affect Mexican officials, military commanders, and businessmen in league with the cartels.

“You are blurring the lines between criminality and terrorism and that is extremely problematic,” said Blazakis, now a professor of international relations at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California.

He added: "There are hundreds of Brazilian gangs eligible for the list. There are numerous Chinese and Russian criminal gangs eligible for the list. Where would you stop?”&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the weeks before US President Donald Trump’s declaration last month that he would forge ahead with designating Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations, Cabinet members and top aides from across the government recommended against it, five people knowledgeable about the matter told Reuters.

In the weeks before US President Donald Trump’s declaration last month that he would forge ahead with designating Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations, Cabinet members and top aides from across the government recommended against it, five people knowledgeable about the matter told Reuters. The recommendations, which some of the sources described as unanimous, have not been reported previously. They were driven in part by concerns that such designations could harm US-Mexico ties, potentially jeopardizing Mexico’s cooperation with Trump’s efforts to halt illegal immigration and drug trafficking across the border, said two sources, including a senior administration official. Another key concern was that the designations could make it easier for migrants to win asylum in the United States by claiming they were fleeing terrorism, the senior administration official and two other sources said. Stephen Miller, one of the most influential White House advisers and the architect of Trump's policies to stem immigration, was among the officials who voiced concerns during deliberations that preceded two high-level meetings resulting in recommendations to shelve the designation plan, according to two of the sources. The White House and Miller declined to comment on the record. All of the sources who spoke to Reuters requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly. Reuters could not determine whether the president had been briefed on the recommendations before announcing, during a November 26 interview with conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly, that he was going forward with the plan. Less than two weeks a later, on December 9, the president tweeted that he was temporarily delaying the plan at Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s request. The senior administration official portrayed the president’s announcement not as a reversal but as a strategic move. “Even the threat of designation was extremely useful leverage in terms of obtaining further cooperation” from Mexico, the official said. The official said that reviving the plan remains “a live possibility” depending on Mexico’s cooperation on such issues as sealing the border to narcotics trafficking and controlling immigration. The Mexican government has argued that equating drug cartels with Islamic State and al Qaeda could open the door to US military intervention. In a meeting with Attorney General William Barr on December 5, President Lopez Obrador expressed opposition to the designation plan, saying the Mexican constitution would not permit such foreign interference, a presidential spokesman told Reuters Tuesday. After the plan was delayed, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted his appreciation of Trump's decision, saying "there will be good results." Crackdown hinged on cooperation Trump has made halting illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking across the US-Mexican border a signature issue of his first term and his 2020 re-election campaign. Designating a group as a foreign terrorist organization, or FTO, is aimed at disrupting its finances through sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on their members and associates. The State Department oversees the process. The success of Trump’s immigration crackdown hinges, however, on Mexico’s cooperation. Earlier this year, Mexico agreed to deploy thousands of national guard troops to intercept migrants moving north toward the US border after the American president threatened to impose escalating tariffs on Mexican goods. In addition, Mexico has taken in tens of thousands of migrants sent back from the United States to await decisions on their US asylum requests. The senior administration official said Trump and many top aides have wanted to crack down on cartel trafficking in narcotics and illegal immigration for some time and were looking at novel approaches, including the FTO designation plan. The president and senior officials believed that they needed “to have an extremely aggressive posture toward the cartels and to look at using tools that had not been used before,” he said. Two Republican members of the US House of Representatives introduced legislation in March that also would have established an FTO designation for cartels. The Trump administration began working on its plan in late August, Trump told O’Reilly in the November 26 interview, before declaring that the cartels “will be designated” as FTOs. Unanimous opposition A few weeks earlier, according to two former officials and another knowledgeable person, deputies to Cabinet members recommended in a meeting that the administration’s plan be shelved. The November 8 meeting was held four days after nine American women and children died in an ambush linked to what Mexican officials asserted was a territorial dispute between rival gangs in northern Mexico. Miller attended the meeting and the decision was unanimous, according to one source. Participants at a November 20 Cabinet-level meeting also advised against the proposal, according to four sources. That decision, too, was unanimous and Miller was there, two of the sources said. The agencies represented at the meetings included the departments of State, Justice, Homeland Security, Defense, Treasury and Commerce, one administration official said. Numerous current and former US officials and other experts say that designating Mexican cartels as FTOs would be counter-productive. Several pointed out that a 1999 law allowing US officials to designate foreign drug traffickers as narcotics kingpins already allow the imposition of sanctions similar to those authorized by an FTO designation. The senior administration official said that US officials’ ability to use the 1999 law contributed to the decision to delay the FTO designation plan. A December 19 report published by the conservative Heritage Foundation warned that designating cartels as FTOs would weaken Trump’s immigration policies. “A terrorist designation could allow unintended numbers to apply for political asylum in the US,” said the report. “The pool of applicants could logically extend beyond Mexico. While Mexican cartels’ territorial stronghold is within their own country, they have representatives on every continent except Antarctica.” Jason Blazakis, who oversaw the designation process at the State Department’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau from 2008-2018, said that in addition to damaging US-Mexican relations, the FTO designation could hurt Mexico’s economy by prompting foreign businesses to leave the country or reconsider investing there. Asset freezes and bans on travel to the US could affect Mexican officials, military commanders, and businessmen in league with the cartels. “You are blurring the lines between criminality and terrorism and that is extremely problematic,” said Blazakis, now a professor of international relations at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. He added: "There are hundreds of Brazilian gangs eligible for the list. There are numerous Chinese and Russian criminal gangs eligible for the list. Where would you stop?”

After Cabinet opposed Mexican cartel policy, Trump forged ahead

Mexico on Monday accused Bolivia of intimidating its diplomats while <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivias-morales-arrives-in-argentina-to-get-refugee-status-268008">Bolivia</a> said Mexico had hijacked a regional summit and dragged its feet in recognizing its new, conservative premier.&nbsp;

Mexico's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it was "deeply concerned" about "excessive" surveillance of the Mexican ambassador's residence and Mexican embassy in Bolivia by about 150 Bolivian intelligence and security service personnel.

In a letter to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivias-morales-arrives-in-argentina-to-get-refugee-status-268008">Organization of American States</a> (OAS), Mexico said the Bolivians were "intimidating" diplomatic staff and attempted to "detain and inspect" the ambassador's vehicle on Monday.

Bolivia has tilted rightward since former&nbsp;socialist President Evo Morales resigned in November after a presidential election which the OAS said was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-election-rigging-in-favour-of-morales-was-overwhelming-oas-final-report-266281">rigged</a> in his favor. Bolivia is currently governed by interim President Jeanine Añez, a former conservative senator and opponent of Morales.

Mexico's leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador granted asylum to Morales, and he is now in Argentina where the new Peronist government of President Alberto Fernandez has indicated it will also give him political asylum.

On Monday, Bolivia's foreign ministry said it was considering pulling out of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) because Mexico, the 2020 president of the organization, made plans this year during Bolivia's presidency for a meeting on January&nbsp;8.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/175-children-abused-by-mexican-branch-of-catholic-church-report-269567">Mexico</a> had also been guilty of "unfriendly conduct" and had shown itself to be "reluctant" to recognize the Añez presidency, it added.&nbsp;

Bolivian Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-reforges-us-ties-as-political-alliances-redrawn-264972">Karen Longaric</a> said she would not attend the January&nbsp;8 meeting in Mexico. "We will see if in the future we will remain part of CELAC or not," she told journalists at a news conference in La Paz.

Mexico on Monday accused Bolivia of intimidating its diplomats while Bolivia said Mexico had hijacked a regional summit and dragged its feet in recognizing its new, conservative premier.

Mexico on Monday accused Bolivia of intimidating its diplomats while Bolivia said Mexico had hijacked a regional summit and dragged its feet in recognizing its new, conservative premier. Mexico's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it was "deeply concerned" about "excessive" surveillance of the Mexican ambassador's residence and Mexican embassy in Bolivia by about 150 Bolivian intelligence and security service personnel. In a letter to the Organization of American States (OAS), Mexico said the Bolivians were "intimidating" diplomatic staff and attempted to "detain and inspect" the ambassador's vehicle on Monday. Bolivia has tilted rightward since former socialist President Evo Morales resigned in November after a presidential election which the OAS said was rigged in his favor. Bolivia is currently governed by interim President Jeanine Añez, a former conservative senator and opponent of Morales. Mexico's leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador granted asylum to Morales, and he is now in Argentina where the new Peronist government of President Alberto Fernandez has indicated it will also give him political asylum. On Monday, Bolivia's foreign ministry said it was considering pulling out of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) because Mexico, the 2020 president of the organization, made plans this year during Bolivia's presidency for a meeting on January 8. Mexico had also been guilty of "unfriendly conduct" and had shown itself to be "reluctant" to recognize the Añez presidency, it added. Bolivian Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said she would not attend the January 8 meeting in Mexico. "We will see if in the future we will remain part of CELAC or not," she told journalists at a news conference in La Paz.

Mexico accuses Bolivia of intimidating diplomats in La Paz

At least 175 children were sexually assaulted by priests belonging to an ultra-conservative Mexican branch of the Roman Catholic Church, according to an internal report published Saturday.

The founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Marcial Maciel, abused as many as 60 children, with a total of 33 priests or deacons acknowledged to have committed sexual assaults against minors since 1941, the document says.

The findings of the report,&nbsp;written by a commission created in June by the director-general of the group, Eduardo Robles-Gil -- spans from the group's founding in 1941 until December 16, 2019.

"The vast majority of the victims were adolescent boys between 11 and 16 years old," the statement said, published on ceroabusos.org, which is supported by the Legionaries of Christ.

The report notes that 18 of the 33 individuals who committed abuses are still part of the organization, but says they have been removed from tasks connected to the public or minors.&nbsp;

Fourteen of the 33 had themselves been victims of the Legionaries, which the report said highlights the existence of "chains of abuse" where "a victim of a Legionnaire, over time, becomes, in turn, an aggressor".

"There are probably more cases of abuse than those in the report and the statistics will have to be updated regularly," it added.

Ceroabusos also notes that a process of "reparation and reconciliation" with 45 victims is taking place while acknowledging that it has yet to extend it to the others.

Maciel, who died in 2008, was ordered to retire to a life of prayer and penitence by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 after facing years of allegations that he had sexually abused boys and young men. He never faced his accusers.

At least 175 children were sexually assaulted by priests belonging to an ultra-conservative Mexican branch of the Roman Catholic Church, according to an internal report published Saturday.

At least 175 children were sexually assaulted by priests belonging to an ultra-conservative Mexican branch of the Roman Catholic Church, according to an internal report published Saturday. The founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Marcial Maciel, abused as many as 60 children, with a total of 33 priests or deacons acknowledged to have committed sexual assaults against minors since 1941, the document says. The findings of the report, written by a commission created in June by the director-general of the group, Eduardo Robles-Gil -- spans from the group's founding in 1941 until December 16, 2019. "The vast majority of the victims were adolescent boys between 11 and 16 years old," the statement said, published on ceroabusos.org, which is supported by the Legionaries of Christ. The report notes that 18 of the 33 individuals who committed abuses are still part of the organization, but says they have been removed from tasks connected to the public or minors. Fourteen of the 33 had themselves been victims of the Legionaries, which the report said highlights the existence of "chains of abuse" where "a victim of a Legionnaire, over time, becomes, in turn, an aggressor". "There are probably more cases of abuse than those in the report and the statistics will have to be updated regularly," it added. Ceroabusos also notes that a process of "reparation and reconciliation" with 45 victims is taking place while acknowledging that it has yet to extend it to the others. Maciel, who died in 2008, was ordered to retire to a life of prayer and penitence by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 after facing years of allegations that he had sexually abused boys and young men. He never faced his accusers.

175 children abused by Mexican branch of Catholic Church: Report

In a muddy makeshift camp in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, more than 1,000 migrants had waited for weeks for a chance to request asylum in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-pushes-back-after-top-us-court-favours-trump-on-shunning-migrants-249280">United States</a>, enduring cold nights and long days of uncertainty.

Frustrated, many are giving up and clearing out.

Authorities say as of last week, there were still about 1,400 migrants, most of them from southwestern Mexico, holding out hope under tents and tarps in a park not far from the Rio Grande.&nbsp;

But on Thursday, only about 700 remained. The others grew tired of the near-freezing temperatures at night and the seemingly fruitless quest to be heard by US officials.

Local associations convinced several families to head to shelters or hotels when the mercury started to plummet.

Some instead made their way across the river, without any idea if they would succeed.

And still others opted to remain -- they are afraid to lose their place on the murky waitlist system they themselves created to convince US border agents to take them in order of their arrival.

"They won't let us proceed unless we hand them our slips to show them we have indeed been waiting," said Rosa, who keeps up the list on a daily basis.

Every night, the men and women at the camp keep watch on the comings and goings on the bridge crossing the Rio Grande -- the natural, international border -- to make sure new arrivals don't jump the queue.

'The cartels threatened us'&nbsp;

According to a survey recently led by several universities in northern Mexico, 60 per cent of those at the camp wait their turn in tents, but more than a quarter are sleeping in the open air.

Many migrants say they are fleeing violence in their hometowns.

"The cartels threatened us and took our land," said one man from Guerrero state.

"At first, they asked us for money," he explained. "But when we could no longer pay, they took our house. They gave us two weeks" to get out, he added.

Officials in Ciudad Juarez -- once known as the "murder capital of the world" -- are trying to be flexible about the influx of migrants.

"We understand that US authorities administratively can't process all of these requests," said Enrique Valenzuela, who works for a Chihuahua state agency tasked with local population issues.

"Most of these people are alleged victims in some way," he said.

"They say that they either have been threatened for some reason -- themselves or their families -- or they have either lost a loved one or a neighbour," he added. 
&nbsp;

In a muddy makeshift camp in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, more than 1,000 migrants had waited for weeks for a chance to request asylum in the United States, enduring cold nights and long days of uncertainty.

In a muddy makeshift camp in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, more than 1,000 migrants had waited for weeks for a chance to request asylum in the United States, enduring cold nights and long days of uncertainty. Frustrated, many are giving up and clearing out. Authorities say as of last week, there were still about 1,400 migrants, most of them from southwestern Mexico, holding out hope under tents and tarps in a park not far from the Rio Grande. But on Thursday, only about 700 remained. The others grew tired of the near-freezing temperatures at night and the seemingly fruitless quest to be heard by US officials. Local associations convinced several families to head to shelters or hotels when the mercury started to plummet. Some instead made their way across the river, without any idea if they would succeed. And still others opted to remain -- they are afraid to lose their place on the murky waitlist system they themselves created to convince US border agents to take them in order of their arrival. "They won't let us proceed unless we hand them our slips to show them we have indeed been waiting," said Rosa, who keeps up the list on a daily basis. Every night, the men and women at the camp keep watch on the comings and goings on the bridge crossing the Rio Grande -- the natural, international border -- to make sure new arrivals don't jump the queue. 'The cartels threatened us' According to a survey recently led by several universities in northern Mexico, 60 per cent of those at the camp wait their turn in tents, but more than a quarter are sleeping in the open air. Many migrants say they are fleeing violence in their hometowns. "The cartels threatened us and took our land," said one man from Guerrero state. "At first, they asked us for money," he explained. "But when we could no longer pay, they took our house. They gave us two weeks" to get out, he added. Officials in Ciudad Juarez -- once known as the "murder capital of the world" -- are trying to be flexible about the influx of migrants. "We understand that US authorities administratively can't process all of these requests," said Enrique Valenzuela, who works for a Chihuahua state agency tasked with local population issues. "Most of these people are alleged victims in some way," he said. "They say that they either have been threatened for some reason -- themselves or their families -- or they have either lost a loved one or a neighbour," he added.

At the US-Mexican border, migrants give up hope of crossing

Two cruise ships collided next to a port in Mexico's island of Cozumel on Friday morning, causing damage to the stern of Carnival Corporation's Carnival Glory, videos posted on social media by passengers on a third ship showed. #Mexico #WION #Cozumel

Two cruise ships collide in Mexico's Cozumel while trying to dock at port

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-states-pledge-more-than-3-billion-for-refugees-asylum-rights-under-threat-269069">United States</a> began flying Mexican deportees deep into Mexico on Thursday, and senior US&nbsp;and Guatemalan officials said Mexicans seeking US&nbsp;refuge might be sent to the Central American nation, in a renewed effort to slash border crossings.

The flight carrying Mexican deportees from Tucson, Arizona, landed in the central city of Guadalajara around midday. One immigration shelter in the city said it had been informed of a likely influx of deportees.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-have-no-proof-i-want-an-immediate-trial-trump-on-impeachment-proceedings-269248">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a> has made clamping down on unlawful migration a top priority of his three-year-old term in office and his 2020 re-election campaign.

Numbers of Central American migrants apprehended at the border fell sharply in the second part of 2019 after Mexico deployed National Guard troops to stem the flow, under pressure from Trump.

With fewer Central Americans at the border, US&nbsp;attention has turned to Mexicans crossing illegally or asking for asylum. Around 150,000 Mexican single adults were apprehended at the border in the fiscal year 2019, sharply down from previous decades but still enough to bother US&nbsp;immigration hawks.

In another sign of the new focus on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mexican-businesses-want-clarity-on-details-of-usmca-trade-deal-267698">Mexicans</a>, Acting Deputy US&nbsp;Department of Homeland Security Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said an agreement that lets US&nbsp;immigration officials send asylum seekers to Guatemala to request refuge there instead could also apply to Mexicans and other nationalities.

"As we fully implement the agreement, all populations are being considered, including Mexican nationals," Cuccinelli said on Twitter.

His comments were echoed by Guatemala's Interior Minister Enrique Degenhart, who told Reuters he had analysed whether Mexicans could be included in the programme, which is similar to the "safe third country" arrangement in Europe that outsources asylum to Turkey.

Also Watch:&nbsp;Migrants gather at US-Mexico border for Christmas party

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Degenhart said the idea of including Mexicans had not been implemented so far but could not be ruled out.

"Right now, it is only being used with Central Americans," he said, pointing out that Mexicans were not part of the long-standing pact that allows Central Americans to move freely between each others' countries.

Mexico's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Cuccinelli and Degenhart's remarks.

Flights

Mexico said it had requested the flights to keep deportees away from dangerous border cities, while a senior DHS official said the flights were in response to rising numbers of Mexican nationals arrested at the US-Mexico border.

Mexicans made up nearly half of all migrants caught between October and December, according to US&nbsp;Customs and Border Protection data.

John Sandweg, a former acting director of US&nbsp;Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Obama administration, said the programme would help stop Mexican migrants from simply crossing again once they had been deported.

"It's a lot cheaper to just return Mexicans across the border," he said. "But the real benefit is the recidivism rate." A bus ride from Guadalajara to Nogales, a Mexican border city across from the US&nbsp;state of Arizona, can take more than a day.

The flights could be scaled up quickly in the coming weeks, said the DHS official, who was not authorized to speak publicly. The Mexican foreign ministry said the flights would begin on a regular basis in January.

The US&nbsp;official added the return flights may expand beyond Guadalajara, Mexico's second-biggest city, to other parts of Mexico.

Acting ICE Director Matt Albence said in a written statement on Thursday that the interior repatriations would allow Mexican nationals to be returned closer to their homes and discourage future border-crossing attempts.

The flight from Tucson to Guadalajara on Thursday carried approximately 150 Mexican deportees, according to ICE.

The United States has in recent years mainly deported Mexicans to border towns, although in the past it also flew them to cities in the interior.

The United States began flying Mexican deportees deep into Mexico on Thursday, and senior US and Guatemalan officials said Mexicans seeking US refuge might be sent to the Central American nation, in a renewed effort to slash border crossings.

The United States began flying Mexican deportees deep into Mexico on Thursday, and senior US and Guatemalan officials said Mexicans seeking US refuge might be sent to the Central American nation, in a renewed effort to slash border crossings. The flight carrying Mexican deportees from Tucson, Arizona, landed in the central city of Guadalajara around midday. One immigration shelter in the city said it had been informed of a likely influx of deportees. US President Donald Trump has made clamping down on unlawful migration a top priority of his three-year-old term in office and his 2020 re-election campaign. Numbers of Central American migrants apprehended at the border fell sharply in the second part of 2019 after Mexico deployed National Guard troops to stem the flow, under pressure from Trump. With fewer Central Americans at the border, US attention has turned to Mexicans crossing illegally or asking for asylum. Around 150,000 Mexican single adults were apprehended at the border in the fiscal year 2019, sharply down from previous decades but still enough to bother US immigration hawks. In another sign of the new focus on Mexicans, Acting Deputy US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said an agreement that lets US immigration officials send asylum seekers to Guatemala to request refuge there instead could also apply to Mexicans and other nationalities. "As we fully implement the agreement, all populations are being considered, including Mexican nationals," Cuccinelli said on Twitter. His comments were echoed by Guatemala's Interior Minister Enrique Degenhart, who told Reuters he had analysed whether Mexicans could be included in the programme, which is similar to the "safe third country" arrangement in Europe that outsources asylum to Turkey. Also Watch: Migrants gather at US-Mexico border for Christmas party × Degenhart said the idea of including Mexicans had not been implemented so far but could not be ruled out. "Right now, it is only being used with Central Americans," he said, pointing out that Mexicans were not part of the long-standing pact that allows Central Americans to move freely between each others' countries. Mexico's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Cuccinelli and Degenhart's remarks. Flights Mexico said it had requested the flights to keep deportees away from dangerous border cities, while a senior DHS official said the flights were in response to rising numbers of Mexican nationals arrested at the US-Mexico border. Mexicans made up nearly half of all migrants caught between October and December, according to US Customs and Border Protection data. John Sandweg, a former acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Obama administration, said the programme would help stop Mexican migrants from simply crossing again once they had been deported. "It's a lot cheaper to just return Mexicans across the border," he said. "But the real benefit is the recidivism rate." A bus ride from Guadalajara to Nogales, a Mexican border city across from the US state of Arizona, can take more than a day. The flights could be scaled up quickly in the coming weeks, said the DHS official, who was not authorized to speak publicly. The Mexican foreign ministry said the flights would begin on a regular basis in January. The US official added the return flights may expand beyond Guadalajara, Mexico's second-biggest city, to other parts of Mexico. Acting ICE Director Matt Albence said in a written statement on Thursday that the interior repatriations would allow Mexican nationals to be returned closer to their homes and discourage future border-crossing attempts. The flight from Tucson to Guadalajara on Thursday carried approximately 150 Mexican deportees, according to ICE. The United States has in recent years mainly deported Mexicans to border towns, although in the past it also flew them to cities in the interior.

US deports Mexicans far from border, may send others to Guatemala

Mexicans of all ages celebrate their heritage and reap tasty rewards by smashing open traditional Christmas pinatas during the holiday season.

Pinatas 'bring happiness' to Mexican families at Christmas

As temperatures drop below freezing on Wednesday (December 18) in Ciudad Juarez, Mexican officials tried to move an encampment of migrant asylum seekers - including around 200 young children - to shelters.

Mexican children shiver in tents at US border as temperature freezes

Archeologists discovery of 16th century anchors off Mexican coast offer clues into Spaniard conquest

A group of mostly Central American migrants gathered next to the border wall dividing the U.S. and Mexico in Tijuana on Saturday (December 14) for a traditional Mexican "posada" or holiday party.

Migrants gather at U.S.-Mexico border for Christmas party

Gravitas: Mexico: A country where cops are being paid to lose weight!

Bolivian ex-President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morales-victim-of-coup-mexican-president-amlo-265630">Evo Morales</a> arrived in Argentina on Thursday seeking refuge under the country's new leftist government after he left his homeland last month following a disputed election.

Morales was granted asylum in Argentina and was on his way to "definitive refugee status," the Argentine interior ministry said in a statement. Center-left President Alberto Fernandez, a Morales ally, was inaugurated on Tuesday.

Four former members of Morales' government have also been granted asylum, including his former health minister Gabriela Montano, the ministry said.

Morales had previously been in Mexico where he was granted asylum after his resignation in the wake of a presidential election which the Organization of American States <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-election-rigging-in-favour-of-morales-was-overwhelming-oas-final-report-266281">(OAS) says was rigged</a> in his favor.

Both Morales and Montano signed a petition upon arrival in Buenos Aires that complied with the "conditions of their refugee status," the Argentine government said, without detailing the conditions.

Argentina's new foreign minister, Felipe Sola, said on an Argentine TV station that the government wanted a commitment from Morales to not make political statements while in the country.

Morales, an iconic socialist leader in Latin America who had been in power for nearly 14 years, thanked Argentina and Mexico for their "support and solidarity" in a tweet after arriving in Argentina.

"My eternal thanks to President (Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador) and the government of Mexico for saving my life and for sheltering me. I felt at home with Mexican sisters and brothers for a month," Morales said in the tweet.

Morales resigned as president on November&nbsp;10 after the OAS declared there were serious irregularities during the Oct. 20 election, prompting political allies to quit and the army to urge him to step down.

There was no meeting planned between Morales and Fernandez, but they could talk on the phone, Sola said.

A senior US&nbsp;official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Morales' presence in Argentina was "not welcome news."

"We will not accept any attempt or action by Morales to meddle or use Argentina as a staging ground to stoke violence or unrest or to undermine a democratic transition in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-reforges-us-ties-as-political-alliances-redrawn-264972">Bolivia</a>," the official said.

Morales, who was Bolivia's first indigenous president, insisted on seeking a fourth term in office, in defiance of term limits and a 2016 referendum in which Bolivians voted against him being allowed to do that. After he resigned, interim President Jeanine Anez was appointed.

Bolivian Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said in La Paz on Thursday that she hoped Argentina would restrict Morales from making political statements.

"We hope that Argentina rigorously complies with the principles and rules of the right of asylum and the right of refuge and that what happened in Mexico - that had an open microphone, an open arena for policy making - does not occur," Longaric said.

Bolivian ex-President Evo Morales arrived in Argentina on Thursday seeking refuge under the country's new leftist government after he left his homeland last month following a disputed election.

Bolivian ex-President Evo Morales arrived in Argentina on Thursday seeking refuge under the country's new leftist government after he left his homeland last month following a disputed election. Morales was granted asylum in Argentina and was on his way to "definitive refugee status," the Argentine interior ministry said in a statement. Center-left President Alberto Fernandez, a Morales ally, was inaugurated on Tuesday. Four former members of Morales' government have also been granted asylum, including his former health minister Gabriela Montano, the ministry said. Morales had previously been in Mexico where he was granted asylum after his resignation in the wake of a presidential election which the Organization of American States (OAS) says was rigged in his favor. Both Morales and Montano signed a petition upon arrival in Buenos Aires that complied with the "conditions of their refugee status," the Argentine government said, without detailing the conditions. Argentina's new foreign minister, Felipe Sola, said on an Argentine TV station that the government wanted a commitment from Morales to not make political statements while in the country. Morales, an iconic socialist leader in Latin America who had been in power for nearly 14 years, thanked Argentina and Mexico for their "support and solidarity" in a tweet after arriving in Argentina. "My eternal thanks to President (Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador) and the government of Mexico for saving my life and for sheltering me. I felt at home with Mexican sisters and brothers for a month," Morales said in the tweet. Morales resigned as president on November 10 after the OAS declared there were serious irregularities during the Oct. 20 election, prompting political allies to quit and the army to urge him to step down. There was no meeting planned between Morales and Fernandez, but they could talk on the phone, Sola said. A senior US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Morales' presence in Argentina was "not welcome news." "We will not accept any attempt or action by Morales to meddle or use Argentina as a staging ground to stoke violence or unrest or to undermine a democratic transition in Bolivia," the official said. Morales, who was Bolivia's first indigenous president, insisted on seeking a fourth term in office, in defiance of term limits and a 2016 referendum in which Bolivians voted against him being allowed to do that. After he resigned, interim President Jeanine Anez was appointed. Bolivian Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said in La Paz on Thursday that she hoped Argentina would restrict Morales from making political statements. "We hope that Argentina rigorously complies with the principles and rules of the right of asylum and the right of refuge and that what happened in Mexico - that had an open microphone, an open arena for policy making - does not occur," Longaric said.

Bolivia's Morales arrives in Argentina, to get refugee status

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-trudeau-and-enrique-pena-sign-mexico-canada-agreement-replace-nafta-180510">United States, Mexico and Canada</a> signed a deal Tuesday to finalize their new trade agreement, paving the way to ratification after more than two years of arduous negotiations.

However, the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the US Senate would likely delay Congressional ratification of the agreement until next year, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

In reality, it is the second time the three countries have triumphantly announced the conclusion of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the deal meant to replace the 25-year-old NAFTA, which President Donald Trump complains has been "a disaster" for the US.

First signed in November 2018, USMCA got bogged down in political complications, particularly in the United States, where opposition Democrats questioned whether it would really force Mexico to deliver on labour reforms meant to level the playing field between Mexican and American workers.

But another year of talks produced a series of additions — notably including tougher enforcement of labour provisions — that won the blessing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the key Democrat needed to move the agreement forward, as well as the largest US labour federation, the AFL-CIO.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who presided over the signing ceremony, said the deal "will benefit both Mexican and American workers." He hailed it as a "driver of growth" for all three countries' economies.

"Some people thought it was impossible to reach this deal. Some people thought we wouldn't be able to agree on anything (with Trump). But look what we've done," said the leftist leader.

From 'worst' to 'best'

The final deal, which must now be ratified in all three countries' legislatures, will replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, the historic pact that erased nearly all tariffs across the region, deeply integrated its economies and helped turn Mexico into an export powerhouse.

Under NAFTA, the region -- which represents close to 30 per cent of the global economy and is home to nearly 500 million people -- did $1.2 trillion in trade last year.

But Trump bashed NAFTA as "the worst trade deal in the history of the country," blaming it for shipping American jobs south of the border.

He insisted on overhauling it -- a long, fraught process that kicked off in August 2017, and which produced what Trump swaggeringly tweeted "will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA."

Analysts say USMCA is similar to NAFTA in many respects, but there is improved access for US agricultural goods, including dairy products, which Canada, in particular, had tried to limit.

It includes rules designed to improve US auto workers' competitiveness, requiring 40 per cent of each duty-free car to be made by people earning at least $16 an hour.

Besides labour enforcement rules, the additions signed Tuesday include tougher measures to monitor environmental provisions and remove the requirement for the countries to provide at least 10 years of exclusivity for biologic drugs, which blocks cheaper generic versions.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer signed the annexe to the deal in Mexico City along with Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexico's top negotiator on the accord, Jesus Seade.

Senior Trump advisor Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, also attended.

"It's nothing short of a miracle that we have all come together," Lighthizer said.

"We have accomplished this together at a moment when around the world it is increasingly difficult to get trade deals done," said Freeland.

Down to the wire

The path to ratification now looks clear in all three countries.

Pelosi — acutely aware of the need to win back blue-collar voters the Democrats lost to Trump in 2016 — sought to claim victory over the president by calling the final deal "infinitely better than what was initially proposed by the administration."

USMCA's fate had looked precarious in recent weeks.

Lopez Obrador firmly rejected the initial US proposal for labour inspections, and the deal seemed likely to get mixed up in Trump's impeachment drama and 2020 re-election bid.

Mexico emphasized that there would be no American "inspectors" visiting Mexican factories or businesses, but rather panels of "independent labour experts" which Mexico would help to choose.

The United States, Mexico and Canada signed a deal Tuesday to finalize their new trade agreement, paving the way to ratification after more than two years of arduous negotiations.

The United States, Mexico and Canada signed a deal Tuesday to finalize their new trade agreement, paving the way to ratification after more than two years of arduous negotiations. However, the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the US Senate would likely delay Congressional ratification of the agreement until next year, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In reality, it is the second time the three countries have triumphantly announced the conclusion of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the deal meant to replace the 25-year-old NAFTA, which President Donald Trump complains has been "a disaster" for the US. First signed in November 2018, USMCA got bogged down in political complications, particularly in the United States, where opposition Democrats questioned whether it would really force Mexico to deliver on labour reforms meant to level the playing field between Mexican and American workers. But another year of talks produced a series of additions — notably including tougher enforcement of labour provisions — that won the blessing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the key Democrat needed to move the agreement forward, as well as the largest US labour federation, the AFL-CIO. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who presided over the signing ceremony, said the deal "will benefit both Mexican and American workers." He hailed it as a "driver of growth" for all three countries' economies. "Some people thought it was impossible to reach this deal. Some people thought we wouldn't be able to agree on anything (with Trump). But look what we've done," said the leftist leader. From 'worst' to 'best' The final deal, which must now be ratified in all three countries' legislatures, will replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, the historic pact that erased nearly all tariffs across the region, deeply integrated its economies and helped turn Mexico into an export powerhouse. Under NAFTA, the region -- which represents close to 30 per cent of the global economy and is home to nearly 500 million people -- did $1.2 trillion in trade last year. But Trump bashed NAFTA as "the worst trade deal in the history of the country," blaming it for shipping American jobs south of the border. He insisted on overhauling it -- a long, fraught process that kicked off in August 2017, and which produced what Trump swaggeringly tweeted "will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA." Analysts say USMCA is similar to NAFTA in many respects, but there is improved access for US agricultural goods, including dairy products, which Canada, in particular, had tried to limit. It includes rules designed to improve US auto workers' competitiveness, requiring 40 per cent of each duty-free car to be made by people earning at least $16 an hour. Besides labour enforcement rules, the additions signed Tuesday include tougher measures to monitor environmental provisions and remove the requirement for the countries to provide at least 10 years of exclusivity for biologic drugs, which blocks cheaper generic versions. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer signed the annexe to the deal in Mexico City along with Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexico's top negotiator on the accord, Jesus Seade. Senior Trump advisor Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, also attended. "It's nothing short of a miracle that we have all come together," Lighthizer said. "We have accomplished this together at a moment when around the world it is increasingly difficult to get trade deals done," said Freeland. Down to the wire The path to ratification now looks clear in all three countries. Pelosi — acutely aware of the need to win back blue-collar voters the Democrats lost to Trump in 2016 — sought to claim victory over the president by calling the final deal "infinitely better than what was initially proposed by the administration." USMCA's fate had looked precarious in recent weeks. Lopez Obrador firmly rejected the initial US proposal for labour inspections, and the deal seemed likely to get mixed up in Trump's impeachment drama and 2020 re-election bid. Mexico emphasized that there would be no American "inspectors" visiting Mexican factories or businesses, but rather panels of "independent labour experts" which Mexico would help to choose.

United States, Mexico, Canada sign deal finalizing USMCA trade pact

After the initial euphoria had subsided,&nbsp;Mexican&nbsp;business leaders emerged bruised and resigned to a new stricter&nbsp;trade&nbsp;deal&nbsp;with the United States and Canada that could usher in more intrusive enforcement of labor rules in Mexico.

Moises Kalach, a leader of the CCE business lobby, which represented Mexico's private sector in the negotiation of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/usmca-united-states-mexico-and-canada-finalize-new-trade-agreement-267552">US-Mexico-Canada Agreement </a>(USMCA) that will replace the 1994 North American Free&nbsp;Trade&nbsp;Agreement (NAFTA), said that&nbsp;businesses&nbsp;felt sidelined.

"We would have liked to have been (in the negotiations) more to give our opinion more. This is the reality, we participated but not as much as we would have liked," said Kalach.

USMCA&nbsp;was signed more than a year ago to replace NAFTA, but Democrats controlling the US&nbsp;House of Representatives insisted on major changes to labor and environmental enforcement before bringing it to a vote.

In an unusual display of bipartisan and cross-border cooperation in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-in-the-trump-era-the-eu-needs-to-rethink-its-approach-to-liberal-order-160809">Trump era</a> of global&nbsp;trade&nbsp;conflicts, top officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States on Tuesday signed a fresh overhaul of the quarter-century-old&nbsp;trade&nbsp;pact.

Some&nbsp;Mexican&nbsp;business groups bemoaned a lack of&nbsp;clarity&nbsp;and conflicting information on how the rules would actually be enforced under the&nbsp;deal, the text of which has not been made public.

Gustavo Hoyos, president of employers federation Coparmex and a vocal critic of President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morales-victim-of-coup-mexican-president-amlo-265630">Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador,</a> said: "up to now virtually no one but government officials have seen the&nbsp;deal's fine print". He called the government "a bad negotiator."

Others were more positive.

"There were many things we would have liked to have seen but in general we can say this&nbsp;deal&nbsp;is very beneficial for Mexico, it will bring investment to the country and I have no doubt will make the North American region more competitive," said Antonio del Valle, head of the&nbsp;Mexican&nbsp;Business Council.

The&nbsp;deal&nbsp;included a new mechanism under which the United States and Canada can create panels of labor experts to investigate union complaints at&nbsp;Mexican&nbsp;factories.

The experts&nbsp;will be able to penalize goods and services exported from that plant if violations of the freedom to organize or collectively bargain are detected, Canada and the US&nbsp;House Ways and Means Committee said.

Mexico's chief negotiator Jesus Seade sought to play down&nbsp;the impact of such "rapid panels," saying he had fended off US&nbsp;union demands to place foreign labor inspectors in&nbsp;Mexican&nbsp;factories.

The rapid panels would be formed after three months and only in response to repeated complaints and they would be selected from a roster of experts, including one from each country involved in the dispute and one chosen by a third party, Seade said.

The&nbsp;Mexican&nbsp;official denied there would be anything like foreign labor inspectors in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-business-as-usual-at-mexicos-southern-border-despite-trump-deal-225581">Mexico</a>.

Canada said that, under the new&nbsp;deal, the burden of proof has been reversed, in that failure to comply with an obligation in the chapter is now presumed to be "in a manner affecting&nbsp;trade&nbsp;or investment between the parties," unless the defending party can demonstrate otherwise.

"If I'm reading this correctly now the country defending itself is guilty until proven otherwise," said a former senior&nbsp;Mexican&nbsp;USMCA&nbsp;negotiator.

"This can become an incentive to block&nbsp;trade&nbsp;you just gave the US&nbsp;an instrument to impose tariffs and close markets because it is going to be accusing you of not complying with your labor standards."

Duncan Wood, director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute in Washington, said: "that while the word 'inspections' has been avoided, 'facility-based enforcement' and in-country 'labor attaches' will raise the specter of foreign interference for some in Mexico."

&nbsp;

After the initial euphoria had subsided, Mexican business leaders emerged bruised and resigned to a new stricter trade deal with the United States and Canada that could usher in more intrusive enforcement of labor rules in Mexico.

After the initial euphoria had subsided, Mexican business leaders emerged bruised and resigned to a new stricter trade deal with the United States and Canada that could usher in more intrusive enforcement of labor rules in Mexico. Moises Kalach, a leader of the CCE business lobby, which represented Mexico's private sector in the negotiation of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that will replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), said that businesses felt sidelined. "We would have liked to have been (in the negotiations) more to give our opinion more. This is the reality, we participated but not as much as we would have liked," said Kalach. USMCA was signed more than a year ago to replace NAFTA, but Democrats controlling the US House of Representatives insisted on major changes to labor and environmental enforcement before bringing it to a vote. In an unusual display of bipartisan and cross-border cooperation in the Trump era of global trade conflicts, top officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States on Tuesday signed a fresh overhaul of the quarter-century-old trade pact. Some Mexican business groups bemoaned a lack of clarity and conflicting information on how the rules would actually be enforced under the deal, the text of which has not been made public. Gustavo Hoyos, president of employers federation Coparmex and a vocal critic of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said: "up to now virtually no one but government officials have seen the deal's fine print". He called the government "a bad negotiator." Others were more positive. "There were many things we would have liked to have seen but in general we can say this deal is very beneficial for Mexico, it will bring investment to the country and I have no doubt will make the North American region more competitive," said Antonio del Valle, head of the Mexican Business Council. The deal included a new mechanism under which the United States and Canada can create panels of labor experts to investigate union complaints at Mexican factories. The experts will be able to penalize goods and services exported from that plant if violations of the freedom to organize or collectively bargain are detected, Canada and the US House Ways and Means Committee said. Mexico's chief negotiator Jesus Seade sought to play down the impact of such "rapid panels," saying he had fended off US union demands to place foreign labor inspectors in Mexican factories. The rapid panels would be formed after three months and only in response to repeated complaints and they would be selected from a roster of experts, including one from each country involved in the dispute and one chosen by a third party, Seade said. The Mexican official denied there would be anything like foreign labor inspectors in Mexico. Canada said that, under the new deal, the burden of proof has been reversed, in that failure to comply with an obligation in the chapter is now presumed to be "in a manner affecting trade or investment between the parties," unless the defending party can demonstrate otherwise. "If I'm reading this correctly now the country defending itself is guilty until proven otherwise," said a former senior Mexican USMCA negotiator. "This can become an incentive to block trade you just gave the US an instrument to impose tariffs and close markets because it is going to be accusing you of not complying with your labor standards." Duncan Wood, director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute in Washington, said: "that while the word 'inspections' has been avoided, 'facility-based enforcement' and in-country 'labor attaches' will raise the specter of foreign interference for some in Mexico."

Mexican businesses want clarity on details of USMCA trade deal

The United States, Mexico and Canada are set to sign an "initial deal" today finalising the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).

"There is an initial deal between the governments," the Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told his daily news conference. Negotiators from the three countries are going to meet in Mexico City.

Obrador was due to chair a meeting of top officials from the three countries at the presidential palace at 1800 GMT.

"Today it will be signed by... the three countries' negotiators", he added

The agreement, which was initially&nbsp;signed in November 2018, is meant to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which President Donald Trump complains has been "a disaster" for the US.

Mexico is the only country to ratify it so far.

Opposition Democrats in Washington are urging for greater oversight of Mexican labour reforms under the new deal. These include wage hikes and increased unionisation.

(With inputs from AFP)

The United States, Mexico and Canada are set to sign an "initial deal" today finalising the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). "There is an initial deal between the governments," the Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told his daily news conference.

The United States, Mexico and Canada are set to sign an "initial deal" today finalising the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). "There is an initial deal between the governments," the Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told his daily news conference. Negotiators from the three countries are going to meet in Mexico City. Obrador was due to chair a meeting of top officials from the three countries at the presidential palace at 1800 GMT. "Today it will be signed by... the three countries' negotiators", he added The agreement, which was initially signed in November 2018, is meant to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which President Donald Trump complains has been "a disaster" for the US. Mexico is the only country to ratify it so far. Opposition Democrats in Washington are urging for greater oversight of Mexican labour reforms under the new deal. These include wage hikes and increased unionisation. (With inputs from AFP)

United States, Mexico, Canada to sign deal finalising new trade agreement

Mexican authorities said Tuesday they have arrested&nbsp;10&nbsp;alleged gunmen from a drug cartel commando that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-14-killed-in-bloody-gunfight-in-northern-mexico-265538">attacked a town</a>&nbsp;near&nbsp;the US&nbsp;border, leaving six locals and 17 assailants dead.

At least 60 gunmen terrorised the small northern city of Villa Union&nbsp;over&nbsp;the weekend, riding into town in heavily armed four-by-fours and spraying dozens of buildings with bullets, including houses and the city hall.

The army, National Guard and police then engaged the gunmen in a series of firefights Saturday and Sunday that killed 23 people, according to an updated toll from authorities in Coahuila state.

Two kidnapped city employees, four state police and 17 gunmen died in the attack, the authorities said.

The episode marks the latest security embarrassment for leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office a year ago vowing to curb the gruesome violence of&nbsp;Mexico's "drug wars."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-warns-will-not-allow-us-military-operations-against-cartels-265319">The authorities mounted a large manhunt after the attack</a>, announcing eight new&nbsp;arrests&nbsp;Tuesday, in addition to two suspects detained earlier.

Coahuila Governor Miguel Angel Riquelme said those arrested "participated directly in the attack on Villa Union City Hall and the houses they shot up along the way, as well as the confrontation" with the security forces.

Witnesses said the gunmen wore the insignia of the Northeast Cartel, a breakaway from the ultra-violent Zetas, a drug cartel founded by corrupt army commandos in the northern state of Tamaulipas in 2010.

"Their instructions were to come scare people and sow terror and seize that turf," Riquelme told Mexican radio network Formula.

"I believe they want to open up a new drug-trafficking route" to the United States, he added.

Lopez Obrador, who marked one year in office just as the incident was taking place, has suffered a series of security setbacks recently, including a botched attempt to arrest the son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and the massacre of nine women and children from a US-Mexican Mormon family last month.

Mexican authorities said Tuesday they have arrested 10 alleged gunmen from a drug cartel commando that attacked a town near the US border, leaving six locals and 17 assailants dead.

Mexican authorities said Tuesday they have arrested 10 alleged gunmen from a drug cartel commando that attacked a town near the US border, leaving six locals and 17 assailants dead. At least 60 gunmen terrorised the small northern city of Villa Union over the weekend, riding into town in heavily armed four-by-fours and spraying dozens of buildings with bullets, including houses and the city hall. The army, National Guard and police then engaged the gunmen in a series of firefights Saturday and Sunday that killed 23 people, according to an updated toll from authorities in Coahuila state. Two kidnapped city employees, four state police and 17 gunmen died in the attack, the authorities said. The episode marks the latest security embarrassment for leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office a year ago vowing to curb the gruesome violence of Mexico's "drug wars." The authorities mounted a large manhunt after the attack, announcing eight new arrests Tuesday, in addition to two suspects detained earlier. Coahuila Governor Miguel Angel Riquelme said those arrested "participated directly in the attack on Villa Union City Hall and the houses they shot up along the way, as well as the confrontation" with the security forces. Witnesses said the gunmen wore the insignia of the Northeast Cartel, a breakaway from the ultra-violent Zetas, a drug cartel founded by corrupt army commandos in the northern state of Tamaulipas in 2010. "Their instructions were to come scare people and sow terror and seize that turf," Riquelme told Mexican radio network Formula. "I believe they want to open up a new drug-trafficking route" to the United States, he added. Lopez Obrador, who marked one year in office just as the incident was taking place, has suffered a series of security setbacks recently, including a botched attempt to arrest the son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and the massacre of nine women and children from a US-Mexican Mormon family last month.

Mexico: 10 arrested over deadly battle near US border

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Sunday that former Bolivian leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivias-congress-approves-law-for-new-elections-without-morales-264143">Evo&nbsp;Morales</a>&nbsp;was the "victim&nbsp;of a&nbsp;coup d'etat."

The leftist president, nicknamed&nbsp;AMLO, celebrated his first year in office with a speech to throngs of supporters in Mexico City.

While detailing budget and tax policies, and the ongoing fight against corruption, Lopez Obrador touched on Mexico's foreign policy by recalling his government's decision to accept&nbsp;Morales&nbsp;as an asylum seeker.

"Evo was the&nbsp;victim&nbsp;of a&nbsp;coup d'etat! And from Mexico, we tell the world, 'Yes to democracy, no to militarism!'"&nbsp;AMLO&nbsp;said&nbsp;during&nbsp;the rally in the central Plaza del Zocalo.

The square was packed with people, and musical groups performed alongside&nbsp;AMLO's speech.

It also marked the first time that Lopez Obrador, who has been in office for a year, spoke directly about the circumstances that led to&nbsp;Morales's departure from Bolivia.

Morales&nbsp;resigned on November 10 amid swelling protests over what political opponents said was his rigging of October 20 elections.

He fled to Mexico the following day after losing the support of the military and police, claiming to be the&nbsp;victim&nbsp;of a&nbsp;coup.

While echoing&nbsp;Morales's claim Sunday,&nbsp;AMLO&nbsp;called the exiled leader "our brother, who represents with dignity the majority of indigenous people of Bolivia."

Morales&nbsp;has yet to meet publicly with Lopez Obrador. He was welcomed on arrival to Mexico by Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

Lopez Obrador's one-year anniversary was marred by a shootout Saturday afternoon near the US border between suspected drug traffickers and police, leaving 20 dead.

Police reported earlier that 21 people had been killed but subsequently corrected the number.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivian-police-battle-with-morales-supporters-death-toll-jumps-262628">Shooting continued into early Sunday</a>, and authorities said that four of those killed were police, 14 were suspected criminals and another three bodies were unidentified.

The shootout comes after Lopez Obrador warned he would not allow the US to conduct cross-border armed operations against drug cartels in the country.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Sunday that former Bolivian leader Evo Morales was the "victim of a coup d'etat." The leftist president, nicknamed AMLO, celebrated his first year in office with a speech to throngs of supporters in Mexico City.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Sunday that former Bolivian leader Evo Morales was the "victim of a coup d'etat." The leftist president, nicknamed AMLO, celebrated his first year in office with a speech to throngs of supporters in Mexico City. While detailing budget and tax policies, and the ongoing fight against corruption, Lopez Obrador touched on Mexico's foreign policy by recalling his government's decision to accept Morales as an asylum seeker. "Evo was the victim of a coup d'etat! And from Mexico, we tell the world, 'Yes to democracy, no to militarism!'" AMLO said during the rally in the central Plaza del Zocalo. The square was packed with people, and musical groups performed alongside AMLO's speech. It also marked the first time that Lopez Obrador, who has been in office for a year, spoke directly about the circumstances that led to Morales's departure from Bolivia. Morales resigned on November 10 amid swelling protests over what political opponents said was his rigging of October 20 elections. He fled to Mexico the following day after losing the support of the military and police, claiming to be the victim of a coup. While echoing Morales's claim Sunday, AMLO called the exiled leader "our brother, who represents with dignity the majority of indigenous people of Bolivia." Morales has yet to meet publicly with Lopez Obrador. He was welcomed on arrival to Mexico by Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. Lopez Obrador's one-year anniversary was marred by a shootout Saturday afternoon near the US border between suspected drug traffickers and police, leaving 20 dead. Police reported earlier that 21 people had been killed but subsequently corrected the number. Shooting continued into early Sunday, and authorities said that four of those killed were police, 14 were suspected criminals and another three bodies were unidentified. The shootout comes after Lopez Obrador warned he would not allow the US to conduct cross-border armed operations against drug cartels in the country.

Morales' victim of coup: Mexican president AMLO

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador warned Friday he would not allow the US to conduct cross-border armed operations after Donald Trump vowed to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups.

The US president has been talking tough on the powerful drug cartels since one was allegedly responsible for the massacre of nine women and children from a US-Mexican Mormon community in northern Mexico on November 4.

Trump tweeted after the killings that the US was ready to help Mexico "wage war on the drug cartels," and he followed up this week by vowing to add Mexican cartels to the US blacklist of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

That insulted national pride in Mexico, which resents a long history of armed interventions by its giant northern neighbour, and where Trump's comments have been taken as a threat of armed cross-border operations.

"Armed foreigners cannot intervene in our territory. We will not allow that," Lopez Obrador said.

He was quick to add that he considered any such operations unlikely, saying there was "great cooperation" between the neighbours and that Trump had always treated him "respectfully."

"In the unlikely case that a decision is taken that we consider affects our sovereignty, then we will act within the framework of international law, but I see it as unlikely," said the leftist leader, who took office one year ago.

US Attorney General William Barr will visit Mexico City next week for talks, said Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

Lopez Obrador, for his part, is due to meet Monday with family members of the slain Mormons.

Mexico deployed its army to fight drug trafficking in 2006, but experts blame the so-called "drug wars" for a spiral of violence, as fragmented cartels fight each other and the military.

The country has registered more than 250,000 murders since deploying the army into the streets, including an all-time high of 33,743 last year -- a record that looks set to be broken again this year.

Drone strikes?

Trump made his controversial comments in a radio interview with conservative media personality Bill O'Reilly.

"Are you going to designate those cartels in Mexico as terror groups and start hitting them with drones?" O'Reilly asked.

"I don't want to say what I'm going to do, but they will be designated," Trump said.

Mexican authorities reacted swiftly, with the foreign minister warning against a "violation of national sovereignty."

His office said it had contacted US officials "to understand the content and the reach" of Trump's statements.

Mexico said it would also seek a high-level meeting with US officials to hear their views and present the Mexican government's concerns -- which include stemming the illegal flow of American-made weapons south of the border.

The two countries share a 3,200-kilometer (nearly 2,000-mile) border. Mexico lost more than half its territory to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican-American War -- just one on a long list of grievances.

However, the two countries cooperate closely in the fight against drug cartels.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has a large operation in Mexico, American planes routinely conduct counter-narcotics operations in Mexican airspace and US personnel work with the Mexican military -- on condition that they are unarmed.

The two countries also work together to crack down on cartel money-laundering operations.

Experts say little would likely change on the ground if the US added Mexican cartels to its terror blacklist.

"There are DEA agents based here permanently, American personnel embedded with the Mexican marines, accompanying them on their missions.... All this is happening already," Jorge Castaneda, a Mexican academic and former foreign minister, told AFP.

"If the United States tells Mexico, 'I want to send in a drone tomorrow,' ... Mexico is going to say, 'Yeah, go ahead.' There's no need to treat it like an invasion."

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador warned Friday he would not allow the US to conduct cross-border armed operations after Donald Trump vowed to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador warned Friday he would not allow the US to conduct cross-border armed operations after Donald Trump vowed to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups. The US president has been talking tough on the powerful drug cartels since one was allegedly responsible for the massacre of nine women and children from a US-Mexican Mormon community in northern Mexico on November 4. Trump tweeted after the killings that the US was ready to help Mexico "wage war on the drug cartels," and he followed up this week by vowing to add Mexican cartels to the US blacklist of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. That insulted national pride in Mexico, which resents a long history of armed interventions by its giant northern neighbour, and where Trump's comments have been taken as a threat of armed cross-border operations. "Armed foreigners cannot intervene in our territory. We will not allow that," Lopez Obrador said. He was quick to add that he considered any such operations unlikely, saying there was "great cooperation" between the neighbours and that Trump had always treated him "respectfully." "In the unlikely case that a decision is taken that we consider affects our sovereignty, then we will act within the framework of international law, but I see it as unlikely," said the leftist leader, who took office one year ago. US Attorney General William Barr will visit Mexico City next week for talks, said Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. Lopez Obrador, for his part, is due to meet Monday with family members of the slain Mormons. Mexico deployed its army to fight drug trafficking in 2006, but experts blame the so-called "drug wars" for a spiral of violence, as fragmented cartels fight each other and the military. The country has registered more than 250,000 murders since deploying the army into the streets, including an all-time high of 33,743 last year -- a record that looks set to be broken again this year. Drone strikes? Trump made his controversial comments in a radio interview with conservative media personality Bill O'Reilly. "Are you going to designate those cartels in Mexico as terror groups and start hitting them with drones?" O'Reilly asked. "I don't want to say what I'm going to do, but they will be designated," Trump said. Mexican authorities reacted swiftly, with the foreign minister warning against a "violation of national sovereignty." His office said it had contacted US officials "to understand the content and the reach" of Trump's statements. Mexico said it would also seek a high-level meeting with US officials to hear their views and present the Mexican government's concerns -- which include stemming the illegal flow of American-made weapons south of the border. The two countries share a 3,200-kilometer (nearly 2,000-mile) border. Mexico lost more than half its territory to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican-American War -- just one on a long list of grievances. However, the two countries cooperate closely in the fight against drug cartels. The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has a large operation in Mexico, American planes routinely conduct counter-narcotics operations in Mexican airspace and US personnel work with the Mexican military -- on condition that they are unarmed. The two countries also work together to crack down on cartel money-laundering operations. Experts say little would likely change on the ground if the US added Mexican cartels to its terror blacklist. "There are DEA agents based here permanently, American personnel embedded with the Mexican marines, accompanying them on their missions.... All this is happening already," Jorge Castaneda, a Mexican academic and former foreign minister, told AFP. "If the United States tells Mexico, 'I want to send in a drone tomorrow,' ... Mexico is going to say, 'Yeah, go ahead.' There's no need to treat it like an invasion."

Mexico warns will not allow US military operations against cartels

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - November 28th, 2019

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-phase-of-trump-impeachment-hearings-set-for-december-4-264748">Donald Trump</a> said in a radio interview posted online Tuesday that he planned to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups.

The move comes after Trump called for a "war" on the drug cartels in early November when nine women and children from an American Mormon community in northern Mexico were killed in a hail of gunfire.

"Are you going to designate those cartels in Mexico as terror groups and start hitting them with drones?" asked Bill O'Reilly, a conservative media personality in an online interview on "The O'Reilly Update."

"I don't want to say what I'm going to do, but they will be designated," Trump answered.

He added: "I will be designating the cartels... absolutely. I have been working on that for the last 90 days.

"Designation is not that easy, you have to go through a process and we are well into that process."

Mexican authorities reacted swiftly, with the foreign ministry saying that it has contacted US officials "to understand the content and the reach" of what the US president had said.

Mexico would also seek a high-level meeting with US officials to hear US concerns and present Mexico's views,&nbsp;which include stemming the flow of weapons bought in the United States and smuggled south of the border, the statement read.

US President Donald Trump said in a radio interview posted online Tuesday that he planned to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups. The move comes after Trump called for a "war" on the drug cartels in early November when nine women and children from an American Mormon community in northern Mexico were killed in a hail of gunfire.

US President Donald Trump said in a radio interview posted online Tuesday that he planned to designate Mexican drug cartels as terror groups. The move comes after Trump called for a "war" on the drug cartels in early November when nine women and children from an American Mormon community in northern Mexico were killed in a hail of gunfire. "Are you going to designate those cartels in Mexico as terror groups and start hitting them with drones?" asked Bill O'Reilly, a conservative media personality in an online interview on "The O'Reilly Update." "I don't want to say what I'm going to do, but they will be designated," Trump answered. He added: "I will be designating the cartels... absolutely. I have been working on that for the last 90 days. "Designation is not that easy, you have to go through a process and we are well into that process." Mexican authorities reacted swiftly, with the foreign ministry saying that it has contacted US officials "to understand the content and the reach" of what the US president had said. Mexico would also seek a high-level meeting with US officials to hear US concerns and present Mexico's views, which include stemming the flow of weapons bought in the United States and smuggled south of the border, the statement read.

Will designate Mexican cartels as 'terror groups': Donald Trump

Thousands of people clashed with the government over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hackers-demand-5-million-from-mexicos-pemex-in-cyberattack-261778">Mexican</a> authorities' failure to end violence against women.

Thousands of women took to the streets of the capital for the protest marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the latest in a series of large marches over soaring rates of femicide and rape in Mexico.

Masked demonstrators with sledgehammers shattered the glass panes of bus stops and advertising billboards, tore down barricades, lit a bonfire and painted messages such as "How many more need to die?" on monuments lining Paseo de la Reforma, the city's most famous street.

Hundreds of riot police, &nbsp;mostly women, given that protest organisers had warned any men would face attacks, responded by firing pepper spray.

The movement has been dubbed the "Glitter Revolution," after protesters doused the Mexico City security minister in pink glitter at one demonstration.

The latest unrest came despite the fact that Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, an ally of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, recently declared a "gender violence alert" in the capital, paving the way for more funding and security and other emergency measures.

Nineteen of Mexico's 32 states have now declared such alerts since 2007.

A protester from neighbouring <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/huge-trove-of-mammoth-skeletons-found-in-mexico-260517">Mexico</a> state, one of the deadliest in the country for women, said she was sceptical the measure would change anything.

"In Mexico state, we've had a gender violence alert for four years running, and it hasn't done anything. They keep killing women," said Valeria Arevalo, 18.

"It's just a technique to appease us," she told AFP.

Some men joined the march too.

One, Benjamin Vargas, carried a picture of his 22-year-old daughter, Sol, who was murdered last year along with his wife. The killer, allegedly Sol's spurned admirer,&nbsp;then burned both bodies.

"It's a step forward," Vargas said of the gender violence alert.

"But they need to do more... The situation for women is getting worse every day. It just doesn't stop," he added, his voice breaking.

Mexico has the most femicides of any country in Latin America, according to Amnesty International.

More than nine women are murdered here every day.

Two in three Mexican women say they have been victims of violence in some form, according to the National Statistics Institute.

(With inputs from agencies)

Thousands of people clashed with the government over Mexican authorities' failure to end violence against women. Thousands of women took to the streets of the capital for the protest marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the latest in a series of large marches over soaring rates of femicide and rape in Mexico.

Thousands of people clashed with the government over Mexican authorities' failure to end violence against women. Thousands of women took to the streets of the capital for the protest marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the latest in a series of large marches over soaring rates of femicide and rape in Mexico. Masked demonstrators with sledgehammers shattered the glass panes of bus stops and advertising billboards, tore down barricades, lit a bonfire and painted messages such as "How many more need to die?" on monuments lining Paseo de la Reforma, the city's most famous street. Hundreds of riot police, mostly women, given that protest organisers had warned any men would face attacks, responded by firing pepper spray. The movement has been dubbed the "Glitter Revolution," after protesters doused the Mexico City security minister in pink glitter at one demonstration. The latest unrest came despite the fact that Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, an ally of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, recently declared a "gender violence alert" in the capital, paving the way for more funding and security and other emergency measures. Nineteen of Mexico's 32 states have now declared such alerts since 2007. A protester from neighbouring Mexico state, one of the deadliest in the country for women, said she was sceptical the measure would change anything. "In Mexico state, we've had a gender violence alert for four years running, and it hasn't done anything. They keep killing women," said Valeria Arevalo, 18. "It's just a technique to appease us," she told AFP. Some men joined the march too. One, Benjamin Vargas, carried a picture of his 22-year-old daughter, Sol, who was murdered last year along with his wife. The killer, allegedly Sol's spurned admirer, then burned both bodies. "It's a step forward," Vargas said of the gender violence alert. "But they need to do more... The situation for women is getting worse every day. It just doesn't stop," he added, his voice breaking. Mexico has the most femicides of any country in Latin America, according to Amnesty International. More than nine women are murdered here every day. Two in three Mexican women say they have been victims of violence in some form, according to the National Statistics Institute. (With inputs from agencies)

'Glitter Revolution': Protesters demand end to violence against women in Mexico

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - November 13th, 2019

As Bolivia's ex-president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivia-seeks-new-leader-as-morales-heads-for-mexico-refuge-261644">Evo Morales began his life</a> in exile in Mexico pledging to "remain in politics" and continue his "fight", the US State Department asked its citizens not to travel to the South American country amid large scale violence.

"As long as I am alive, we will remain in politics. As long as I am alive, the fight continues," Morales told reporters as soon as he got off the plane in Mexico. He was whisked away by Mexican officials to an undisclosed place citing security concerns.

Paraguayan President Mario Abdo had earlier said his country was willing to grant political asylum to Morales.

In violence-ravaged Bolivia, deputy Senate Speaker Jeanine Anez who is in line to take over declared herself interim president even as lawmakers failed to reach a consensus over the country's leadership although reports said Constitutional Court had endorsed her appointment.

"We are emerging from one of the darkest episodes of our democratic history," Jeanine Anez said, adding,"I ask that from now on we join forces and our hands to help rebuild democracy and the rule of law."

"We want to call new elections as soon as possible," Anez said in Congress while adding that, "It's a commitment we have made to the country and of course, we will fulfil it."

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-bolivian-president-resigns-takes-asylum-in-mexico-261689/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Police set roadblocks to block political groups from clashing against each other even as the attorney general said seven people had died since violence had broken out after Morales was declared winner in a controversial election last month.

Four of those fatalities were from gunfire, Attorney General Juan Lanchipa said.

"All of these cases will be investigated until we establish the truth and find out who is responsible so they can be punished under the law," Lanchipa asserted.

Meanwhile, the US State Department told its citizens not to travel to Bolivia due to the unrest.

"Do not travel to Bolivia due to civil unrest," the State Department said in its advisory while it decided to pullout "non-emergency US government employees due to ongoing political instability in Bolivia."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

As Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales began his life in exile in Mexico pledging to "remain in politics" and continue his "fight", the US State Department asked its citizens not to travel to the South American country amid large scale violence.

As Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales began his life in exile in Mexico pledging to "remain in politics" and continue his "fight", the US State Department asked its citizens not to travel to the South American country amid large scale violence. "As long as I am alive, we will remain in politics. As long as I am alive, the fight continues," Morales told reporters as soon as he got off the plane in Mexico. He was whisked away by Mexican officials to an undisclosed place citing security concerns. Paraguayan President Mario Abdo had earlier said his country was willing to grant political asylum to Morales. In violence-ravaged Bolivia, deputy Senate Speaker Jeanine Anez who is in line to take over declared herself interim president even as lawmakers failed to reach a consensus over the country's leadership although reports said Constitutional Court had endorsed her appointment. "We are emerging from one of the darkest episodes of our democratic history," Jeanine Anez said, adding,"I ask that from now on we join forces and our hands to help rebuild democracy and the rule of law." "We want to call new elections as soon as possible," Anez said in Congress while adding that, "It's a commitment we have made to the country and of course, we will fulfil it." Watch Video: Police set roadblocks to block political groups from clashing against each other even as the attorney general said seven people had died since violence had broken out after Morales was declared winner in a controversial election last month. Four of those fatalities were from gunfire, Attorney General Juan Lanchipa said. "All of these cases will be investigated until we establish the truth and find out who is responsible so they can be punished under the law," Lanchipa asserted. Meanwhile, the US State Department told its citizens not to travel to Bolivia due to the unrest. "Do not travel to Bolivia due to civil unrest," the State Department said in its advisory while it decided to pullout "non-emergency US government employees due to ongoing political instability in Bolivia."

In Mexico, Morales pledges to 'remain in politics' as Bolivia battles to restore stability

More than 100 members of a US-Mexican community of Mormon origin have left their homes in northern Mexico after an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-probes-narco-group-la-linea-in-mormon-murders-260430">ambush killed nine</a> of their number, relatives said on Tuesday.

Since the massacre last week of three mothers and six children by suspected cartel gunmen, families have been streaming out of La Mora, a remote farming village in the state of Sonora, said Taylor Langford, a relative of the victims. He estimated that around 150 people had left the village, representing about 60 per cent&nbsp;of the local residents.

Some of the members were leaving temporarily, others permanently, but almost all would return if security were better, said Langford, 27, who grew up in La Mora and now lives in Utah.

"It's devastating, it's a horrible feeling that our life's work, our life's savings can be taken from us like that," said Langford, who was raised in the community, which was built from the ground-up over three generations. "A lot of us are at the point where we'll leave it, we'll abandon it all for the safety of our families."

The women and children were killed after coming under fire on a remote dirt road east of La Mora, which lies 80 miles (130 km) south of the US-Mexico border, as they drove in three vehicles toward the neighbouring state of Chihuahua.

Three Mexicans who work with families in La Mora said only four of the community's 34 homes remain occupied.

Those who left are staying in the United States with family and friends or in a few cases, second homes.

Howard Miller, husband of Rhonita Miller LeBaron, one of the mothers killed in the attack, headed to North Dakota to be with family there, according to Rhonita's father, Adrian LeBaron.

Langford said his family has a strong presence in both the Phoenix area of Arizona and around Salt Lake City, Utah.

Some leaving La Mora are going to Colonia LeBaron, a larger community with more resources and security in neighbouring Chihuahua state, said Julian LeBaron, a relative of the victims.

After the massacre, US&nbsp;President Donald<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-for-war-on-cartels-as-mormons-murdered-in-mexico-260206"> Trump offered Mexico help</a> in wiping out drug gangs. Mexico accepted, asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assist with the probe.

When asked about reports that a convoy of several dozen FBI vehicles had entered Mexico, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told a news conference that some experts were working in ballistics, and others were likely at work on other aspects of the case.

Ebrard said Mexico turned to the FBI due the victims' dual citizenship. The cooperation is also an opportunity for Mexico to check the origin of the guns used in the attack, he said.

The US&nbsp;agents must work in tandem with their Mexican counterparts and will not be armed.

&nbsp;

More than 100 members of a US-Mexican community of Mormon origin have left their homes in northern Mexico after an ambush killed nine of their number, relatives said on Tuesday.

More than 100 members of a US-Mexican community of Mormon origin have left their homes in northern Mexico after an ambush killed nine of their number, relatives said on Tuesday. Since the massacre last week of three mothers and six children by suspected cartel gunmen, families have been streaming out of La Mora, a remote farming village in the state of Sonora, said Taylor Langford, a relative of the victims. He estimated that around 150 people had left the village, representing about 60 per cent of the local residents. Some of the members were leaving temporarily, others permanently, but almost all would return if security were better, said Langford, 27, who grew up in La Mora and now lives in Utah. "It's devastating, it's a horrible feeling that our life's work, our life's savings can be taken from us like that," said Langford, who was raised in the community, which was built from the ground-up over three generations. "A lot of us are at the point where we'll leave it, we'll abandon it all for the safety of our families." The women and children were killed after coming under fire on a remote dirt road east of La Mora, which lies 80 miles (130 km) south of the US-Mexico border, as they drove in three vehicles toward the neighbouring state of Chihuahua. Three Mexicans who work with families in La Mora said only four of the community's 34 homes remain occupied. Those who left are staying in the United States with family and friends or in a few cases, second homes. Howard Miller, husband of Rhonita Miller LeBaron, one of the mothers killed in the attack, headed to North Dakota to be with family there, according to Rhonita's father, Adrian LeBaron. Langford said his family has a strong presence in both the Phoenix area of Arizona and around Salt Lake City, Utah. Some leaving La Mora are going to Colonia LeBaron, a larger community with more resources and security in neighbouring Chihuahua state, said Julian LeBaron, a relative of the victims. After the massacre, US President Donald Trump offered Mexico help in wiping out drug gangs. Mexico accepted, asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assist with the probe. When asked about reports that a convoy of several dozen FBI vehicles had entered Mexico, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told a news conference that some experts were working in ballistics, and others were likely at work on other aspects of the case. Ebrard said Mexico turned to the FBI due the victims' dual citizenship. The cooperation is also an opportunity for Mexico to check the origin of the guns used in the attack, he said. The US agents must work in tandem with their Mexican counterparts and will not be armed.

Over 100 people leave Mexican Mormon village after massacre

Hackers demanded about $5 million in bitcoin from Mexico's Pemex, they told Reuters on Tuesday, saying the state oil firm missed a special discount by not paying immediately after a cyberattack that fouled up the company's systems.

The hack, which Pemex said it detected on Sunday, forced the company to shut down computers across Mexico, freezing systems such as payments, according to five employees and internal emails.

Hackers have increasingly targeted companies with malicious programs that can cripple systems overseeing everything from supply chains to manufacturing, removing them only after receiving substantial payments.

A ransom note that appeared on Pemex computers seen by Reuters pointed to a darknet website affiliated with "DoppelPaymer," a type of ransomware.

The website demanded 565 bitcoins, or nearly $5 million at current prices, and threatened Pemex with a 48-hour deadline, listing an email address to contact.

When Reuters wrote to the email for details, the apparent hackers replied, saying that Pemex had missed a deadline for a "special price," an apparent reference to the discounts sometimes offered to ransomware victims for early payment. But they said Pemex still had time to meet their bitcoin demand and would not comment further while the new deadline was pending.

Pemex did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the ransom demand.

The attack is the latest challenge for Pemex, which is battling to pay down heavy debts, reverse years of declining oil production and avoid downgrades to its credit ratings.

Pemex said its storage and distribution facilities were operating normally and that the attack had affected less than 5 per cent&nbsp;of its computers.

"Let's avoid rumours and disinformation," it said in a statement.

A person who works in Pemex's production and exploration said that division was not affected.

There was some confusion about which form of ransomware was used in the attack. One Pemex official said in an internal email the company was targeted by "Ryuk," a strain of ransomware that experts say typically targets companies with annual revenue between $500 million and $1 billion - far below Pemex's levels.

DoppelPaymer is a relatively new breed of ransomware that cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said was behind recent attacks on Chile's Agriculture Ministry and the town of Edcouch in Texas.

On Tuesday, Pemex was reconnecting unaffected computers to its network using software patches and wiping infected computers clean, said one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The company had to communicate with employees via mobile messaging service WhatsApp because employees could not open their emails, said another source, who was also not authorized to speak to reporters.

"In finances, all the computers are off, there could eventually be problems with payments," the person said.

Companies taken hostage digitally can suffer catastrophic damage, whether or not they pay the ransom.

Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro was hit in March by ransomware that spread to 160 sites, eventually forcing parts of the industrial giant to operate via pen and paper.

The company refused to pay the ransom. But it said the attack generated up to $71 million in cleanup costs - of which only $3.6 million so far had been paid out by insurance.

Hackers demanded about $5 million in bitcoin from Mexico's Pemex, they told Reuters on Tuesday, saying the state oil firm missed a special discount by not paying immediately after a cyberattack that fouled up the company's systems.

Hackers demanded about $5 million in bitcoin from Mexico's Pemex, they told Reuters on Tuesday, saying the state oil firm missed a special discount by not paying immediately after a cyberattack that fouled up the company's systems. The hack, which Pemex said it detected on Sunday, forced the company to shut down computers across Mexico, freezing systems such as payments, according to five employees and internal emails. Hackers have increasingly targeted companies with malicious programs that can cripple systems overseeing everything from supply chains to manufacturing, removing them only after receiving substantial payments. A ransom note that appeared on Pemex computers seen by Reuters pointed to a darknet website affiliated with "DoppelPaymer," a type of ransomware. The website demanded 565 bitcoins, or nearly $5 million at current prices, and threatened Pemex with a 48-hour deadline, listing an email address to contact. When Reuters wrote to the email for details, the apparent hackers replied, saying that Pemex had missed a deadline for a "special price," an apparent reference to the discounts sometimes offered to ransomware victims for early payment. But they said Pemex still had time to meet their bitcoin demand and would not comment further while the new deadline was pending. Pemex did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the ransom demand. The attack is the latest challenge for Pemex, which is battling to pay down heavy debts, reverse years of declining oil production and avoid downgrades to its credit ratings. Pemex said its storage and distribution facilities were operating normally and that the attack had affected less than 5 per cent of its computers. "Let's avoid rumours and disinformation," it said in a statement. A person who works in Pemex's production and exploration said that division was not affected. There was some confusion about which form of ransomware was used in the attack. One Pemex official said in an internal email the company was targeted by "Ryuk," a strain of ransomware that experts say typically targets companies with annual revenue between $500 million and $1 billion - far below Pemex's levels. DoppelPaymer is a relatively new breed of ransomware that cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said was behind recent attacks on Chile's Agriculture Ministry and the town of Edcouch in Texas. On Tuesday, Pemex was reconnecting unaffected computers to its network using software patches and wiping infected computers clean, said one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The company had to communicate with employees via mobile messaging service WhatsApp because employees could not open their emails, said another source, who was also not authorized to speak to reporters. "In finances, all the computers are off, there could eventually be problems with payments," the person said. Companies taken hostage digitally can suffer catastrophic damage, whether or not they pay the ransom. Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro was hit in March by ransomware that spread to 160 sites, eventually forcing parts of the industrial giant to operate via pen and paper. The company refused to pay the ransom. But it said the attack generated up to $71 million in cleanup costs - of which only $3.6 million so far had been paid out by insurance.

Hackers demand $5 million from Mexico's Pemex in cyberattack

What Next For Bolivia After Morales Resigns From Presidency?

Gravitas: Bolivian President Resigns & Takes Asylum in Mexico

Mexican foreign minister announced on Monday that Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales,60, would be granted asylum as the South American nation <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morales-exit-in-bolivia-sparks-night-of-violence-leaves-a-political-vacuum-261397">faced continued violence</a>.

"Several minutes ago I received a phone call from (former) president Evo Morales in which he responded to our offer and verbally and formally requested political asylum in our country," Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said.

"The Mexican foreign ministry, after consulting Interior Minister Olga Sanchez Cordero, made the decision to grant him asylum... for humanitarian reasons," the Mexican foreign minister added.

Ebrard asserted that Morales's "life and physical integrity are at risk in Bolivia."

As events unfolded, Peru's foreign ministry said a "Mexican government plane" had been granted permission for overflight and to refuel and had departed for Bolivia at 6:30 pm (2330 MT).

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bolivian-president-evo-morales-resigns-261235/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As violence spread amid Morales exit, Bolivia's armed forces said it would conduct joint operations with the police to prevent violence.

Earlier, Bolivia's police chief in La Paz Colonel Jose Barrenechea had called on General Williams Kaliman to "intervene" saying the police had been "overrun" as thousands of pro-Morales supporters marched through the city even as Morales called on the opposition to "pacify the country".

"The military command of the armed forces has arranged for joint operations with the police to prevent bloodshed and fighting amongst the Bolivian family," General Williams Kaliman said in a televised address to the nation.

Morales had resigned amid controversy over election results and had called for another election even as Army commanders and the police asked Morales to step down. Morales resigned on November 10 in a televised address.

Meanwhile, Senator Jeanine Anez, 52, who is constitutionally in line to become the interim president pledged to call fresh elections. "We are going to call elections, an electoral process that reflects the will of all Bolivians," Anez said.

Mexican foreign minister announced on Monday that Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales,60, would be granted asylum as the South American nation faced continued violence.

Mexican foreign minister announced on Monday that Bolivia's ex-president Evo Morales,60, would be granted asylum as the South American nation faced continued violence. "Several minutes ago I received a phone call from (former) president Evo Morales in which he responded to our offer and verbally and formally requested political asylum in our country," Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said. "The Mexican foreign ministry, after consulting Interior Minister Olga Sanchez Cordero, made the decision to grant him asylum... for humanitarian reasons," the Mexican foreign minister added. Ebrard asserted that Morales's "life and physical integrity are at risk in Bolivia." As events unfolded, Peru's foreign ministry said a "Mexican government plane" had been granted permission for overflight and to refuel and had departed for Bolivia at 6:30 pm (2330 MT). Watch Video: As violence spread amid Morales exit, Bolivia's armed forces said it would conduct joint operations with the police to prevent violence. Earlier, Bolivia's police chief in La Paz Colonel Jose Barrenechea had called on General Williams Kaliman to "intervene" saying the police had been "overrun" as thousands of pro-Morales supporters marched through the city even as Morales called on the opposition to "pacify the country". "The military command of the armed forces has arranged for joint operations with the police to prevent bloodshed and fighting amongst the Bolivian family," General Williams Kaliman said in a televised address to the nation. Morales had resigned amid controversy over election results and had called for another election even as Army commanders and the police asked Morales to step down. Morales resigned on November 10 in a televised address. Meanwhile, Senator Jeanine Anez, 52, who is constitutionally in line to become the interim president pledged to call fresh elections. "We are going to call elections, an electoral process that reflects the will of all Bolivians," Anez said.

Morales to be granted asylum, his life at risk in Bolivia: Mexico

Bolivia unrest: Evo Morales departs for Mexico to seek political Asylum. Watch video to know more.

Bolivia unrest: Evo Morales departs for Mexico to seek political Asylum

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morales-to-be-granted-asylum-his-life-at-risk-in-bolivia-mexico-261494">Bolivia's</a> former leader Evo Morales was flying to Mexico for asylum on Tuesday as security forces sought to quell violence over the long-serving leftist's resignation and lawmakers searched for an interim replacement.

Morales, who quit after weeks of protests over a disputed October election, flew in a Mexican Air Force plane from the town of Chimore, a stronghold where Bolivia's first indigenous president retreated as his 14-year rule imploded.

The plane stopped in Paraguay to refuel, before flying on to Mexico where it was due around 9 am&nbsp;local time.

"His life and integrity are safe," tweeted Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, whose leftist government has supported Morales' accusations of a coup against him by political rivals.

Ebrard tweeted a photo of Morales seated alone in the jet with a downcast, unsmiling expression, displaying Mexico's red, white and green flag across his lap.

In Bolivia's highland capital <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morales-exit-in-bolivia-sparks-night-of-violence-leaves-a-political-vacuum-261397">La Paz</a>, roadblocks were still in place after soldiers and police patrolled late into the night to deter fighting between rival political groups and looting that erupted after Morales' resignation.

The charismatic, 60-year-old, former coca leaf farmer was beloved by the poor when he won power in 2006, but alienated Bolivians by insisting on seeking a fourth term.

New president sought

Lawmakers were expected to meet on Tuesday to formally accept Morales' resignation and begin deciding an interim leadership prior to a new election.

The government collapsed on Sunday after the Organization of American States (OAS) delivered a damning report on irregularities during the October vote, prompting ruling party allies to quit and the army to urge Morales' departure.

With Morales' deputy and many allies in government and parliament also gone, opposition politician and Senate second vice-president Jeanine Anez may take the top job temporarily.

Bolivia and Latin America are starkly divided by Morales' fall, with detractors exulting in the fall of a "dictator" and supporters denouncing a coup by right-wing foes determined to put Bolivia's capitalist elite back in charge.

Morales' Defense Minister Javier Zavaleta also resigned on Tuesday and called on election runner-up Carlos Mesa and protest leader Luis Fernando Camacho to avoid violence.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivian-president-morales-resigns-after-protests-over-disputed-october-vote-261231">Morales achieved steady economic growth</a> in one of the region's poorest nations and was for many years hugely popular, but his successful legal challenge to a 2016 referendum stopping him running for another term brought accusations of autocracy.

His departure has added to a wave of unrest around Latin America, including in nearby Ecuador and Chile where protesters have been berating leaders over social inequalities.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador praised Morales for resigning rather than putting lives at risk.

Bolivia's former leader Evo Morales was flying to Mexico for asylum on Tuesday as security forces sought to quell violence over the long-serving leftist's resignation and lawmakers searched for an interim replacement.

Bolivia's former leader Evo Morales was flying to Mexico for asylum on Tuesday as security forces sought to quell violence over the long-serving leftist's resignation and lawmakers searched for an interim replacement. Morales, who quit after weeks of protests over a disputed October election, flew in a Mexican Air Force plane from the town of Chimore, a stronghold where Bolivia's first indigenous president retreated as his 14-year rule imploded. The plane stopped in Paraguay to refuel, before flying on to Mexico where it was due around 9 am local time. "His life and integrity are safe," tweeted Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, whose leftist government has supported Morales' accusations of a coup against him by political rivals. Ebrard tweeted a photo of Morales seated alone in the jet with a downcast, unsmiling expression, displaying Mexico's red, white and green flag across his lap. In Bolivia's highland capital La Paz, roadblocks were still in place after soldiers and police patrolled late into the night to deter fighting between rival political groups and looting that erupted after Morales' resignation. The charismatic, 60-year-old, former coca leaf farmer was beloved by the poor when he won power in 2006, but alienated Bolivians by insisting on seeking a fourth term. New president sought Lawmakers were expected to meet on Tuesday to formally accept Morales' resignation and begin deciding an interim leadership prior to a new election. The government collapsed on Sunday after the Organization of American States (OAS) delivered a damning report on irregularities during the October vote, prompting ruling party allies to quit and the army to urge Morales' departure. With Morales' deputy and many allies in government and parliament also gone, opposition politician and Senate second vice-president Jeanine Anez may take the top job temporarily. Bolivia and Latin America are starkly divided by Morales' fall, with detractors exulting in the fall of a "dictator" and supporters denouncing a coup by right-wing foes determined to put Bolivia's capitalist elite back in charge. Morales' Defense Minister Javier Zavaleta also resigned on Tuesday and called on election runner-up Carlos Mesa and protest leader Luis Fernando Camacho to avoid violence. Morales achieved steady economic growth in one of the region's poorest nations and was for many years hugely popular, but his successful legal challenge to a 2016 referendum stopping him running for another term brought accusations of autocracy. His departure has added to a wave of unrest around Latin America, including in nearby Ecuador and Chile where protesters have been berating leaders over social inequalities. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador praised Morales for resigning rather than putting lives at risk.

Bolivia seeks new leader as Morales heads for Mexico refuge

Hundreds of friends and family members gathered in a remote northern Mexican region on Thursday (November 7) to mourn the nine American women and children who were slain in a burst of bullets and fire earlier this week.

Mourners for slain Americans in Mexico call for justice

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