MEXICO'S FOX CHIDES U.S. OVER DRUG HABIT

SAN CRISTOBAL, Mexico -- Only days before his historic inauguration as
president, Vicente Fox said America should deal with its drug habit and
pledged to join the United States and Canada in what he called "NAFTA-plus."

In an interview before he takes office Friday, Fox said the United States
is too quick to write off Mexico as a corrupt haven for drug smugglers --
and too reluctant to look in the mirror.

"The United States year after year blames us. Why?" Fox asked. "Who lets
the drugs into the United States? Who is doing gigantic business in the
United States, then sends down millions of dollars that corrupt Mexican
police officers and government officials?"

Fox said the two countries need to "sit down and work this out together."

Fox has promised strong measures against drug corruption, but his comments
indicate he will continue -- or increase -- Mexico's long-standing
complaint that the supply of drugs would not exist without demand in the
United States.

He also said that despite a tepid reaction from both George W. Bush and Al
Gore, he was confident that he would persuade his northern neighbors to
expand the North American Free Trade Agreement and eventually to open their
borders entirely to Mexican goods -- and maybe even workers -- along the
lines of the European Union.

Fox's election July 2 was a historic change for Mexico, ending 71 years of
rule by a single party. On Friday, the country enters a new era as Fox
takes office -- and takes on dire problems including crippling poverty,
widespread corruption, and rampant crime.