News Summary for April 29th, 2008

++ The federal government accepted proposal for talks with the Popular Revolutionary Army – the EPR – as long as four conditions are met, among them that the EPR halt attacks and sabotage, that talks cover other issues as well, not just be limited to the disappearance of EPR members, and that topics of national importance be discussed.

++ Speaking in Zacatecas, President Felipe Calderón asked Education Secretary Josefina Vázquez Mota to present a program to improve quality in the country’s primary level schools.

++ Former UNAM rector Juan Ramón de la Fuente was awarded the Citizen’s Merit medal by the Federal District Legislative Assembly… In his acceptance speech de la Fuente had harsh words for the country’s politicians, he called for insults to be set aside and for politicians to reach out to each other and engage in dialogue.

++ The Senate received the document calling for debate on energy reform to take place from May 13 to July 22. The document could be published this Wednesday.

++ Senators and deputies across the political spectrum condemned death threats made against the speaker of the Lower House of Congress, PRD member Ruth Zavaleta.

++ And the party itself, PRD party leadership, called the death threats against Ruth Zavaleta “despicable” and demanded that the federal government punish those responsible for the threats.

++ The PRD technical elections committee has completed tallying votes for councilors and national party congress members, however there are still no results for the main election, for party president.

++ Baja California Attorney general Romel Moreno confirmed that a shootout last Saturday in Tijuana, that left 16 dead, was a battle among groups within the drug cartel led by the Arellano family.