After Drug Vote, Mexico Tells U.S. Not to Meddle
The Associated Press
MEXICO CITYPresident Ernesto Zedillo warned in
comments published Friday that he would not tolerate meddling in
Mexico's internal affairs as a result of Washington's feud over
certification of his drug war.
Other Mexicans also bristled at the vote Thursday by a U.S.
congressional committee that rebuked the Clinton administration's
recertification of Mk. Zedillo's antinarcotics program.
Mr. Zedillo described the squabble between the U.S. executive
and legislative branches as an " internal affair that can have
consequences for the dignity and sovereignty of Mexicans." While
stressing that Mexico intended to continue cooperating with the United
States he promised that his government would act forcefully "to defend
the dignity and sovereignty" of the nation.
"Mexico, as with other important problems, has acted without
hesitation to take up the war on drugs," he said in comments published
on the front pages of several Mexican newspapers.
"We have established very clear foundations for cooperation
with the United States and other countries grounded as always on the
principle of respect for our sovereignty."
Mr. Zedillo made the comments Thursday while meeting in
Cancun with South and Central American of ficials to discuss the fight
against illegal drug production and firearms trafficking.
On Thursday, the House International Relations Committee
rebuked both Mk. Clinton and Mexico by giving bipartisan support to a
measure on overturning Ek. Clinton's decision. The largely symbolic
resolution is scheduled for a vote by the full House next week.

Extradition Seen as Test Case
The Clinton administration has singled out a drug case in
Mexico as a test of whether Mexican officials will achieve a new level of
cooperation, apromise made in negotiations preceding the president's
decision last week to certify that Mexico is fully cooperating in the war
on drugs, the Los Angeles Times reported from Washington.
Administration officials are pushing for the extradition of
Oscar Malherbe de Leon, the alleged leader of the notorious Gulf drug
cartel, who was arrested recently in Mexico and is under indictment in
Houston, said Robert Gelbard, an assistant secretary of state for
international narcotics and law enforcement affairs.