TV SIDEKICK IS ARRESTED IN KILLING OF POPULAR HOST

The onstage sidekick of Mexican television host Francisco "Paco" Stanley was
arrested Friday for alleged involvement in the June 7 slaying of the popular
entertainer. Four other people also were arrested and a jailed suspected
drug trafficker was accused of ordering the slaying.

Mario Rodr(acu)guez Bezares, who had been under house arrest since last
month, was detained at his home and taken to a Mexico City penitentiary, the
city attorney general's office said.

An arrest warrant was issued for suspected drug trafficker Luis Amezcua for
allegedly ordering Stanley's killing because of a drug debt, the city's
chief prosecutor, Samuel del Villar, told reporters. Amezcua is already
imprisoned in Mexico City while fighting a U.S. extradition request on
drug-smuggling charges. [N570]