MEXICO: PRESIDENT ENRIQUE PEÑA NIETO SAYS TEXAS EXECUTION SETS 'BAD PRECEDENT'

Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto said the execution Wednesday (January 22) of Mexican national Edgar Tamayo in Texas sets "a bad precedent" that flaunts international law.
Peña commented while speaking with Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His government had lobbied for a stay of execution while the case was considered, hoping the United States Supreme Court would issue a stay of execution. The high court reconsidered then rejected a stay Wednesday.
In condemning the execution by lethal injection, the Mexican leader was referring to a ruling by the United Nations International Court of Justice at The Hague. Tamayo was convicted of shooting a police officer in 1994. State Department has said the execution will make it more difficult to provide consular assistance to U.S. citizens facing criminal charges abroad. The State Department released a statement on Thursday saying it "regrets Texas' decision to proceed with Mr. Tamayo's execution without that review and reconsideration, but remains committed to working to uphold our international obligations."