HEAVY FBI PRESENCE AT DIG CRITICIZED

CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO -- While FBI agents and Mexican investigators
continued to dig Thursday for victims who may have been executed by drug
hitmen near the U.S. border, a dispute brewed over the heavy U.S. presence
on Mexican soil.

Originally, it was suggested as many as 100 people who may have been
murdered by the Juarez cocaine cartel might be found in four locations.

Mexican officials since have toned down those expectations.

The presence of 65 FBI agents leading the probe spurred nationalist ire
that Mexico's sovereignty was being violated.

"This is a very delicate situation for the country. Mexico cannot allow
operations of this size," said Sen. Adolfo Aguilar Zinser.

Eduardo Ibarrola, deputy attorney general for international affairs,
rejected the criticism, saying binational cooperation was needed to fight
cross-border crime.