• Evans edges 2010 champion in photo finish • Thor Hushovd hangs on to yellow jersey Australia’s Cadel Evans edged the defending champion Alberto Contador in a photo finish to win the fourth stage of the Tour de France as Thor Hushovd retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. The 172.5-kilometre (107-mile) route from Lorient to Mur-de-Bretagne was mostly flat, but ended with a short, sharp climb favouring those that could muster bursts of speed uphill. The finish was so close that Contador raised his fist to celebrate what he believed was a stage win, but slow-motion video and a photo still showed that Evans, the two-time Tour runner-up, had won. The stage showed that Contador, who has faced a series of early setbacks on this Tour already, is in shape to compete. Hushovd narrowly kept the yellow jersey by trailing in a group not far behind, finishing sixth. Earlier, Jurgen Van de Walle of Belgium became the first rider to pull out of the race, reducing the field to 197 racers. His Omega Pharma-Lotto team said he quit due to lingering groin pain from a crash on Saturday. Stage four result 1 Cadel Evans (Australia, BMC Racing) 4hr 11min 39sec 2 Alberto Contador (Spain, Saxo Bank) same time 3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan, Astana) 4 Rigoberto Uran (Colombia, Team Sky) 5 Philippe Gilbert (Belgium, Omega Pharma-Lotto) 6 Thor Hushovd (Norway, Garmin) 7 Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg, Leopard) 8 Samuel Sanchez (Spain, Euskaltel) 9 Jurgen Van den Broeck (Belgium, Omega Pharma-Lotto) 10 Andreas Kloeden (Germany, RadioShack) Overall standings 1 Thor Hushovd (Norway, Garmin) 13hr 58min 25sec 2 Cadel Evans (Australia, BMC Racing) + 1sec 3 Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg, Leopard) + 4sec 4 David Millar (Britain, Garmin) +8sec 5 Andreas Kloeden (Germany, RadioShack) +10sec 6 Bradley Wiggins (Britain, Team Sky) same time 7 Geraint Thomas (Britain, Team Sky) +12sec 8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway, Team Sky) same time 9 Andy Schleck (Luxembourg, Leopard) 10 Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark, Leopard) Tour de France 2011 Tour de France Alberto Contador Cycling guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …• Evans edges 2010 champion in photo finish • Thor Hushovd hangs on to yellow jersey Australia’s Cadel Evans edged the defending champion Alberto Contador in a photo finish to win the fourth stage of the Tour de France as Thor Hushovd retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. The 172.5-kilometre (107-mile) route from Lorient to Mur-de-Bretagne was mostly flat, but ended with a short, sharp climb favouring those that could muster bursts of speed uphill. The finish was so close that Contador raised his fist to celebrate what he believed was a stage win, but slow-motion video and a photo still showed that Evans, the two-time Tour runner-up, had won. The stage showed that Contador, who has faced a series of early setbacks on this Tour already, is in shape to compete. Hushovd narrowly kept the yellow jersey by trailing in a group not far behind, finishing sixth. Earlier, Jurgen Van de Walle of Belgium became the first rider to pull out of the race, reducing the field to 197 racers. His Omega Pharma-Lotto team said he quit due to lingering groin pain from a crash on Saturday. Stage four result 1 Cadel Evans (Australia, BMC Racing) 4hr 11min 39sec 2 Alberto Contador (Spain, Saxo Bank) same time 3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan, Astana) 4 Rigoberto Uran (Colombia, Team Sky) 5 Philippe Gilbert (Belgium, Omega Pharma-Lotto) 6 Thor Hushovd (Norway, Garmin) 7 Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg, Leopard) 8 Samuel Sanchez (Spain, Euskaltel) 9 Jurgen Van den Broeck (Belgium, Omega Pharma-Lotto) 10 Andreas Kloeden (Germany, RadioShack) Overall standings 1 Thor Hushovd (Norway, Garmin) 13hr 58min 25sec 2 Cadel Evans (Australia, BMC Racing) + 1sec 3 Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg, Leopard) + 4sec 4 David Millar (Britain, Garmin) +8sec 5 Andreas Kloeden (Germany, RadioShack) +10sec 6 Bradley Wiggins (Britain, Team Sky) same time 7 Geraint Thomas (Britain, Team Sky) +12sec 8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway, Team Sky) same time 9 Andy Schleck (Luxembourg, Leopard) 10 Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark, Leopard) Tour de France 2011 Tour de France Alberto Contador Cycling guardian.co.uk
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Of the 12,000 officers deployed in the capital for the Games next year, 2,400 could be from outside London The Metropolitan police have outlined plans to deploy up to 12,000 officers a day during next year’s Olympic Games, with up to 20% of them drawn from outside London. Forces up and down the country will contribute to filling posts during the Games, particularly in specialist roles requiring protection officers, firearms officers and mounted officers. “They are the ones we need in large numbers who will be brought in to assist with the Games,” said Met assistant commissioner Chris Allison, the Olympic security co-ordinator. Forces providing officers will be reimbursed so they can fill the shifts with replacements. The home secretary, Theresa May, outlined a series of exercises designed to test the ability of the various agencies involved in security to work together. They will include a major “live” exercise on the streets of London next spring. “We will be against a severe threat level but we are used to delivering major events against that threat level,” said Allison. “We recognise the terrorist threat could come from anywhere. We have looked at the various attack methodologies the terrorists have used in the past and we’ve used that to inform the plans, but we’re still watching. We can’t rest on our laurels.” He said that besides watching for the threat of terrorism, other priorities included policing protests and combating serious and organised crime, ticket touts and counterfeit tickets. A total of £757m of public money is being spent on security. About £475m will be spent on policing the Games while the remainder will be spent by the London organising committee to provide security at the venues, through G4S security. Allison said local authorities, the London mayor and sponsors were discussing the nature of security at the so-called “live sites” and other parallel events. “We are working closely with the Greater London Authority and local authorities across the country on the issue of parallel events,” he said. “It’s quite clear that if we have a parallel event on that doesn’t have the required level of security, then the terrorists who can’t get into a major venue will potentially go to the other places.” Ticketholders will face airport-style security before being allowed into venues, with queuing taking between 15 and 20 minutes during peak times, he said. Allison has talked about drawing on certain niche Royal Navy skills to help police the city’s waterways and the sailing venue in Weymouth. Armed police would be deployed in certain circumstances, he said, but most of the 12,000 officers would be unarmed. Met commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said: “I want to stress that the summer of 2012, for the Metropolitan police and indeed the nation and the government, isn’t just about the Games … the challenge for the Met in particular is to continue to run policing services here in London. And we are going to do that.” Olympic Games 2012 Police Metropolitan police London Theresa May Owen Gibson guardian.co.uk
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Of the 12,000 officers deployed in the capital for the Games next year, 2,400 could be from outside London The Metropolitan police have outlined plans to deploy up to 12,000 officers a day during next year’s Olympic Games, with up to 20% of them drawn from outside London. Forces up and down the country will contribute to filling posts during the Games, particularly in specialist roles requiring protection officers, firearms officers and mounted officers. “They are the ones we need in large numbers who will be brought in to assist with the Games,” said Met assistant commissioner Chris Allison, the Olympic security co-ordinator. Forces providing officers will be reimbursed so they can fill the shifts with replacements. The home secretary, Theresa May, outlined a series of exercises designed to test the ability of the various agencies involved in security to work together. They will include a major “live” exercise on the streets of London next spring. “We will be against a severe threat level but we are used to delivering major events against that threat level,” said Allison. “We recognise the terrorist threat could come from anywhere. We have looked at the various attack methodologies the terrorists have used in the past and we’ve used that to inform the plans, but we’re still watching. We can’t rest on our laurels.” He said that besides watching for the threat of terrorism, other priorities included policing protests and combating serious and organised crime, ticket touts and counterfeit tickets. A total of £757m of public money is being spent on security. About £475m will be spent on policing the Games while the remainder will be spent by the London organising committee to provide security at the venues, through G4S security. Allison said local authorities, the London mayor and sponsors were discussing the nature of security at the so-called “live sites” and other parallel events. “We are working closely with the Greater London Authority and local authorities across the country on the issue of parallel events,” he said. “It’s quite clear that if we have a parallel event on that doesn’t have the required level of security, then the terrorists who can’t get into a major venue will potentially go to the other places.” Ticketholders will face airport-style security before being allowed into venues, with queuing taking between 15 and 20 minutes during peak times, he said. Allison has talked about drawing on certain niche Royal Navy skills to help police the city’s waterways and the sailing venue in Weymouth. Armed police would be deployed in certain circumstances, he said, but most of the 12,000 officers would be unarmed. Met commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said: “I want to stress that the summer of 2012, for the Metropolitan police and indeed the nation and the government, isn’t just about the Games … the challenge for the Met in particular is to continue to run policing services here in London. And we are going to do that.” Olympic Games 2012 Police Metropolitan police London Theresa May Owen Gibson guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Phone hacking: Glenn Mulcaire blames ‘relentless pressure’ by NoW for actions
July 5, 2011 No Comment
Private investigator says sorry for ‘hurt and upset’ caused under ‘a constant demand for results’ from News of the World The private investigator at the centre of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal has issued a public apology to all those who have been hurt or upset by his activity. In a statement released exclusively to the Guardian, Glenn Mulcaire made no direct reference to the hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone , but he said he had never intended to interfere with any police inquiry. “I want to apologise to anybody who was hurt or upset by what I have done,” he said, adding that he had worked at the News of the World under “constant demand for results”. He released the statement at the Guardian’s request after experiencing what he described as ‘vilification’ following the revelation of the hacking of the missing schoolgirl’s phone. “Much has been published in the media about me. Up to now, I have not responded publicly in any way to all the stories but in the light of the publicity over the last 24 hours, I feel I must break my silence. “I want to apologise to anybody who was hurt or upset by what I have done. I’ve been to court. I’ve pleaded guilty. And I’ve gone to prison and been punished. I still face the possibility of further criminal prosecution. “Working for the News of the World was never easy. There was relentless pressure. There was a constant demand for results. I knew what we did pushed the limits ethically. But, at the time, I didn’t understand that I had broken the law at all. “A lot of information I obtained was simply tittle-tattle, of no great importance to anyone, but sometimes what I did was for what I thought was the greater good, to carry out investigative journalism. “I never had any intention of interfering with any police inquiry into any crime. “I know I have brought the vilification I am experiencing upon myself, but I do ask the media to leave my family and my children, who are all blameless, alone.” The statement came as it emerged the parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the two children murdered by Ian Huntley, were contacted by Scotland Yard detectives investigating phone hacking at the News of the World. Earlier Rebekah Brooks has told employees it is “inconceivable” she knew that the News of the World hacked into Milly Dowler’s mobile phone. On Wednesday there will be a rare emergency Commons debate into calls for a public inquiry into phone hacking by News International journalists, and a potential cover up by its senior executives. Glenn Mulcaire Phone hacking News of the World Newspapers & magazines National newspapers Newspapers Nick Davies guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Phone hacking: Glenn Mulcaire blames ‘relentless pressure’ by NoW for actions
July 5, 2011 No CommentPrivate investigator says sorry for ‘hurt and upset’ caused under ‘a constant demand for results’ from News of the World The private investigator at the centre of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal has issued a public apology to all those who have been hurt or upset by his activity. In a statement released exclusively to the Guardian, Glenn Mulcaire made no direct reference to the hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone , but he said he had never intended to interfere with any police inquiry. “I want to apologise to anybody who was hurt or upset by what I have done,” he said, adding that he had worked at the News of the World under “constant demand for results”. He released the statement at the Guardian’s request after experiencing what he described as ‘vilification’ following the revelation of the hacking of the missing schoolgirl’s phone. “Much has been published in the media about me. Up to now, I have not responded publicly in any way to all the stories but in the light of the publicity over the last 24 hours, I feel I must break my silence. “I want to apologise to anybody who was hurt or upset by what I have done. I’ve been to court. I’ve pleaded guilty. And I’ve gone to prison and been punished. I still face the possibility of further criminal prosecution. “Working for the News of the World was never easy. There was relentless pressure. There was a constant demand for results. I knew what we did pushed the limits ethically. But, at the time, I didn’t understand that I had broken the law at all. “A lot of information I obtained was simply tittle-tattle, of no great importance to anyone, but sometimes what I did was for what I thought was the greater good, to carry out investigative journalism. “I never had any intention of interfering with any police inquiry into any crime. “I know I have brought the vilification I am experiencing upon myself, but I do ask the media to leave my family and my children, who are all blameless, alone.” The statement came as it emerged the parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the two children murdered by Ian Huntley, were contacted by Scotland Yard detectives investigating phone hacking at the News of the World. Earlier Rebekah Brooks has told employees it is “inconceivable” she knew that the News of the World hacked into Milly Dowler’s mobile phone. On Wednesday there will be a rare emergency Commons debate into calls for a public inquiry into phone hacking by News International journalists, and a potential cover up by its senior executives. Glenn Mulcaire Phone hacking News of the World Newspapers & magazines National newspapers Newspapers Nick Davies guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …If You Really Want To Fix Medicare, Help These Dems Repeal The Sweetheart Deal With Big Pharma: Medicare Part D
July 5, 2011 No CommentThe Nation’s John Nichols talks about the great things Medicare has accomplished — and how to lower costs without gutting it. As you can imagine, he doesn’t think much of Rep. Paul Ryan’s approach: Forty-five years ago this week, the first Medicare checks were delivered, and the United States made a great leap forward. Before Medicare was implemented—as a social-welfare program designed not just to deliver care but to poverty— one in five Americans lived below the poverty line. After the program was implemented, and after related “War on Poverty” initiatives were developed, that number was cut almost in half. Poverty among seniors dropped by two thirds. Why? Before Medicare, millions of elderly Americans could not afford to buy healthcare. They did not have access even to basic care. When they needed treatment for the inevitable ailments that are associated with aging, they and their families spent down what meager savings that retained and a stumble into poverty soon followed. Medicare broke the vicious cycle for the elderly, as Medicaid did for disabled Americans and their families. “For more than four decades, Medicare has kept millions of our senior citizens from living out their days in poverty,” explains one of the program’s steadiest champions, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin. Medicare continues to serve the purpose for which it was created. Indeed, so much good continues to come of this program—and of Medicaid—that it is difficult to imagine why anyone who seek to dismantle the program. But that is precisely what House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, is trying to do. The right reform now is not the Ryan plan. It is the proposal by Representatives Henry A. Waxman, Sander Levin, Pete Stark, John D. Dingell, George Miller and Rob Andrews that would save the government billions by reducing Medicare Part D drug costs for taxpayers. This legislation, the Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2011 (H.R. 2190), would save more than $100 billion. How? By eliminating the sweetheart deal for brand-name drug manufacturers that was developed by the Bush-Cheney administration and its congressional allies and that allows these multinational corporations to charge Medicare higher prices for millions of low-income enrollees in the Medicare Part D program. “Instead of making devastating cuts to programs that help low-income and middle-income Americans, as Republicans keep putting on the table, we should do what every other industrialized country does and ask the pharmaceutical industry, one of the wealthiest in the world, to chip in,” says California Congressman Stark, the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. “What’s more, the savings from this legislation could pay for a multi-year ‘doc fix’—something we tried to do in a comprehensive way but have had to address yearly so Medicare’s payments to doctors aren’t slashed.” Medicare can be reformed the right way. It is not broken. And it is not broke. Contrast this approach with that of the Administration and Congress members : ¶ Gradually eliminate Medicare payments to hospitals for bad debts that result when beneficiaries fail to pay deductibles and co-payments. Medicare reimburses hospitals for 70 percent of such debts after the hospitals make reasonable efforts to collect the unpaid amounts. ¶ Reduce Medicare payments to teaching hospitals for the costs of training doctors, caring for sicker patients and providing specialized services like trauma care and organ transplants . Medicare spends $9.5 billion a year for its share of those costs. ¶ Reduce the federal share of payments to health care providers treating low-income people under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The administration wants to establish a single “blended rate” for each state. The federal government now reimburses states at different rates for different groups of people and different services in the two programs. Representative Henry A. Waxman of California, the senior Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee and an architect of Medicaid, said he was “very concerned” that this proposal would reduce the federal contribution to Medicaid and shift costs to states.
Continue reading …If You Really Want To Fix Medicare, Help These Dems Repeal The Sweetheart Deal With Big Pharma: Medicare Part D
July 5, 2011 No CommentThe Nation’s John Nichols talks about the great things Medicare has accomplished — and how to lower costs without gutting it. As you can imagine, he doesn’t think much of Rep. Paul Ryan’s approach: Forty-five years ago this week, the first Medicare checks were delivered, and the United States made a great leap forward. Before Medicare was implemented—as a social-welfare program designed not just to deliver care but to poverty— one in five Americans lived below the poverty line. After the program was implemented, and after related “War on Poverty” initiatives were developed, that number was cut almost in half. Poverty among seniors dropped by two thirds. Why? Before Medicare, millions of elderly Americans could not afford to buy healthcare. They did not have access even to basic care. When they needed treatment for the inevitable ailments that are associated with aging, they and their families spent down what meager savings that retained and a stumble into poverty soon followed. Medicare broke the vicious cycle for the elderly, as Medicaid did for disabled Americans and their families. “For more than four decades, Medicare has kept millions of our senior citizens from living out their days in poverty,” explains one of the program’s steadiest champions, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin. Medicare continues to serve the purpose for which it was created. Indeed, so much good continues to come of this program—and of Medicaid—that it is difficult to imagine why anyone who seek to dismantle the program. But that is precisely what House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, is trying to do. The right reform now is not the Ryan plan. It is the proposal by Representatives Henry A. Waxman, Sander Levin, Pete Stark, John D. Dingell, George Miller and Rob Andrews that would save the government billions by reducing Medicare Part D drug costs for taxpayers. This legislation, the Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2011 (H.R. 2190), would save more than $100 billion. How? By eliminating the sweetheart deal for brand-name drug manufacturers that was developed by the Bush-Cheney administration and its congressional allies and that allows these multinational corporations to charge Medicare higher prices for millions of low-income enrollees in the Medicare Part D program. “Instead of making devastating cuts to programs that help low-income and middle-income Americans, as Republicans keep putting on the table, we should do what every other industrialized country does and ask the pharmaceutical industry, one of the wealthiest in the world, to chip in,” says California Congressman Stark, the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. “What’s more, the savings from this legislation could pay for a multi-year ‘doc fix’—something we tried to do in a comprehensive way but have had to address yearly so Medicare’s payments to doctors aren’t slashed.” Medicare can be reformed the right way. It is not broken. And it is not broke. Contrast this approach with that of the Administration and Congress members : ¶ Gradually eliminate Medicare payments to hospitals for bad debts that result when beneficiaries fail to pay deductibles and co-payments. Medicare reimburses hospitals for 70 percent of such debts after the hospitals make reasonable efforts to collect the unpaid amounts. ¶ Reduce Medicare payments to teaching hospitals for the costs of training doctors, caring for sicker patients and providing specialized services like trauma care and organ transplants . Medicare spends $9.5 billion a year for its share of those costs. ¶ Reduce the federal share of payments to health care providers treating low-income people under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The administration wants to establish a single “blended rate” for each state. The federal government now reimburses states at different rates for different groups of people and different services in the two programs. Representative Henry A. Waxman of California, the senior Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee and an architect of Medicaid, said he was “very concerned” that this proposal would reduce the federal contribution to Medicaid and shift costs to states.
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Conservative-led council says it will re-hire staff if they accept 5.4% pay cut A Conservative-led council has sent letters of dismissal to its entire workforce, telling them they will be re-hired the next day only if they agree to a pay cut. Shropshire county council gave its 6,500 staff notice of their dismissal on 30 September, but offered them immediate re-employment if they accepted a 5.4% pay cut as well as changes to their sick-pay arrangements. The council said it needs to make the changes to find £7m towards a total savings target of £76m over three years. The alternative would be “large-scale” redundancies. Jackie Kelly, the council’s head of organisational development, said it had been necessary to embark upon a legal process of “dismissal and re-engagement” following failure to reach agreement with trade unions. All staff had been offered re-employment. “Whilst we appreciate [that] the formal nature of this process may lead to some anxiety, we intend to continue offering reassurance, guidance and support to all our staff over the coming days, weeks and months,” Kelly said. Unison, which represents about 40% of the council’s workers, said the letters had frightened and intimidated people. Leaders of the union’s Shropshire branch would be meeting to discuss balloting on industrial action. “We’ve been told to sign up and shut up,” said Alan James, branch secretary. “There’s not a lot of places we can go with this.” The council’s plan emerged as new figures showed that spending by councils on local services has fallen for the first time in two decades as a result of cuts in government grants. Councils in England will this year spend an average 5.7% less on services than in the previous 12 months, including almost 15% less on housing, 21% less on roads and 32% less on planning. The spending figures provide the first authoritative overview of the effect of the sharp cut in council grants for 2011-12. The main grant has been reduced by almost 10%. According to public finance body Cipfa, which has surveyed all councils’ spending plans as notified to Whitehall, expenditure on services will amount to £99.5bn or £1,921 per person – a return to levels of 2008-09. Cipfa says the reduction is the first since the introduction of the poll tax in 1990. The biggest spending falls are in the north-west (an average 7.8%) and north-east (6.9%), with the lowest in the south-east outside of London at 3.2%. Ian Carruthers, Cipfa’s policy and technical director, said: “These statistics underline the difficult decisions councils have been faced with in setting their 2011-12 budgets. It is only through effective financial planning and an emphasis on efficiency that the impact on frontline services has not been greater.” One encouragement for ministers is that their measures to protect spending on services for elderly and disabled people appear to have worked: average spending on social care is shown to be rising this year by 1.6%. But groups representing the hardest-hit services expressed dismay. Campbell Robb, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: “Our advice services are already seeing a huge increase in demand as unemployment and cuts to services begin to bite, whilst local authorities reduce the safety net for those in housing need.” Trudi Elliott, chief executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said: “Planning has a critical role to play in supporting communities’ aspirations for growth, new homes and protecting the environment and their social fabric.” The local government minister, Grant Shapps, said councils’ total spending this year, including expenditure other than that on frontline services, would amount to £118bn. This equated to more than £5,000 per household and there remained scope for savings without hitting services. “By cutting waste, more joint working and improving procurement, councils can do more for less,” Shapps said. “Good councils can hold council tax down and protect frontline services.” But Dave Prentis, general secretary of public services union Unison, said: “Given the biggest-in-a-generation spending cuts hitting councils, it’s hardly surprising that spending has shrunk so drastically. Look behind the figures and you’ll find cuts sending shockwaves through communities.” Public sector cuts Local government Public sector pay Public finance David Brindle guardian.co.uk
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US president warns Texan authorities that execution would put America in breach of international legal obligations President Barack Obama is attempting to block the execution in Texas on Thursday of a Mexican man because it would breach an international convention and do “irreparable harm” to US interests. The White House has asked the US supreme court to put the execution of Humberto Leal Garcia on hold while Congress passes a law that would prevent the convicted rapist and murderer from being put to death along with dozens of other foreign nationals who were denied proper access to diplomatic representation before trials for capital crimes. The administration moved after the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, brushed aside appeals from diplomats, top judges, senior military officers, the United Nations and former president George W Bush to stay Leal’s execution because it could jeopardise American citizens arrested abroad as well as US diplomatic interests. Leal, 38, was convicted in 1994 of the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in San Antonio. Few question that he was responsible for the killing but the Texas authorities failed to tell Leal, who was born in Mexico and has lived in the US since the age of two, that under the Vienna convention he was entitled to contact the Mexican consulate when he was arrested. Leal’s lawyers argue that the lack of consular access played a role in the death penalty being applied because the Mexican national incriminated himself in statements made during “non-custodial interviews” with the police on the day of the murder. Had Leal had access to the Mexican consulate it would have been likely to have arranged a lawyer who would have advised the accused man to limit his statements to the police. As it was, the Mexican authorities were never informed of his arrest. In a 30-page brief to the supreme court, the administration said that the carrying out of the execution “would place the United States in irreparable breach of its international law obligation” under the convention. The White House said it was in the US’s interests to meet its treaty obligations. “These interests include protecting Americans abroad, fostering co-operation with foreign nations, and demonstrating respect for the international rule of law,” it said. Carrying out Leal’s execution would cause “irreparable harm” to US interests abroad, the administration added. “That breach would have serious repercussions for United States foreign relations, law-enforcement and other co-operation with Mexico, and the ability of American citizens travelling abroad to have the benefits of consular assistance in the event of detention,” it said. The legal situation has been complicated by earlier court rulings. In 2004, the international court of justice (ICJ) ruled that the US authorities had failed to meet its legal obligations to 51 Mexicans awaiting execution in American prisons when they were not informed of their right to contact their consulates. The then president, George W Bush, a former Texas governor who backs the death penalty, said the US would adhere to the ICJ ruling which, in effect, meant the death sentences would be reviewed or commuted. But in 2008 the supreme court ruled that while the US government was obliged to comply with the ICJ ruling it did not have the power to force individual American states to do so. Only Congress could require adherence by passing a law. The Obama administration has told the supreme court that a bill has recently been introduced in to the Senate to do just that but it is unlikely to win the approval of both houses of Congress before next year. The White House wants Leal’s execution put on hold until the law is passed but two courts have already ruled that pending legislation has no effect on the legal process. The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, has appealed to Perry to commute Leal’s sentence to life imprisonment. Christof Heyns, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions said that if Leal was put to death it would be “tantamount to an arbitrary deprivation of life”. Perry’s office has said Texas laws had been abided by and that Leal would be executed for “the most heinous of crimes”. United States Obama administration Capital punishment Barack Obama George Bush Mexico United Nations Chris McGreal guardian.co.uk
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