MEXICO: EX-PRESIDENT'S BROTHER CLEARED ON 1 CHARGE

MEXICO CITY - An appeals court on Wednesday found the brother of former
President Carlos Salinas not guilty of laundering millions of dollars for
drug lords during his brother's rule, his lawyer said.

Lawyer Raul Cardenas said Raul Salinas, who has been in jail since 1995
while his brother fled into exile, was delighted to be absolved of one of
the most serious charges against him.

Salinas had been accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes from
the country's cocaine barons during the l988-94 reign of his brother.

Raul Salinas was to remain in prison pending trial on other charges
including master-minding the murder of a former top ruling party official
and running a protection racket for drug barons.