news Summary for May 29th, 2009

++ Federal judicial authorities called on another 36 persons from Michoacán to testify… These are in addition to 29 public servants from that state, among them 10 mayors, who are allegedly linked to the La Familia Michoacana drug organization.

++ The Attorney General’s Office will keep former Michoacán Attorney General Miguel García Hurtado under custody… García Hurtado had requested leave from his position to answer questions from authorities.

++ Meanwhile, Mexican army troops and federal police continued to patrol Michoacán after the sweep…

++ Interior Secretary Fernando Gómez Mont and PRD leader Jesús Ortega Martínez met to discuss the Michoacán arrests… After the meeting Ortega said he warned Gómez Mont that his party will not allow the fight against insecurity to be used as a ploy to win votes in elections.

++ The Attorney General’s Office reenacted the prison breakout in Cieneguillas, Zacatecas on May 16, in which an armed commando rescued 53 inmates related to drug trafficking… The commando faced no resistance from prison guards, and authorities have said the commando had inside help… Wardens and guards have been arrested following the incident…

++ PRI head Beatriz Paredes challenged PAN national leader Germán Martínez to debate the most important issues facing Mexico today… Martínez accepted the challenge saying it was the best way to compare and contrast different ideas and proposals.

++ The International Labor Organization warned that between 39 and 59 million people could lose their jobs this year, because of the international economic crisis… The ILO warned there could be 239 million unemployed all over the world by year’s end.

++ President Felipe Calderón launched a national program to reduce mortality rates during pregnancy for mothers… Under the program all pregnant women are entitled to free medical care at the Mexican Social Security Institute, the State Workers Social Security Institute and the Health Secretariat.

++ And the number of people who have died in Mexico from the A H1N1 influenza outbreak rose to 95, six more than on Wednesday… Authorities said 4,974 infections have been confirmed.