Mexican 'dirty war' suspects face arrest

Mexico's Supreme Court has cleared the way for the possible arrest of former officials implicated in the disappearance of leftist activists in the 1960s and 1970s in the so-called dirty war.

The court ruled yesterday that kidnappings are not subject to the statute of limitations, allowing arrest warrants to be issued over the 1975 kidnapping of the son of a renowned Mexican human rights activist. Raul Alvarez, head of the 68 Committee, a group seeking justice for those killed in the 1968 massacre of students in Mexico City, said the ruling had "enormous importance".

In April, a lower court refused to issue arrest warrants against police and intelligence agents over the alleged kidnapping of Jesus Piedra Ibarra, suspected leader of the guerrilla group Liga 23 de Septiembre.