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Mexicans to get look at electoral tribunal

By TIMES WIRES
Published August 5, 2006

MEXICO CITY - After weeks of closed-door deliberations that will determine Mexico's next leader, the nation's top electoral court on Friday prepared to hold its first open session on the country's disputed presidential race.

The session, scheduled to begin this morning, will give this divided nation its first look at how the Federal Electoral Tribunal plans to deal with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's allegations of widespread fraud and dirty campaign practices in the July 2 election.

The leftist Lopez Obrador is demanding a full ballot-by-ballot recount, which he says will show he won the race. An official count, still uncertified by the court, gave ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon an advantage of less than 0.6 percent, about 240,000 votes.

The tribunal has until Sept. 6 to declare a president-elect or annul the election. The seven judges will begin by ruling on 174 allegations of fraud. Those rulings will likely determine whether they will order a full or partial recount.

Seven foreign companies punished for Iran deals

WASHINGTON - The U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on seven foreign companies, two of them Russian, for providing Iran with materials that could be used to make unconventional weapons or cruise or ballistic missile systems, it was announced Friday.

The sanctions, effective July 28, will be in place for two years. During that time, U.S. government agencies cannot buy goods or services from, or provide assistance to, the seven companies. The sanctions also bar the sale of sensitive military equipment, services or technologies to the companies or their subsidiaries.

The two Russian companies are Rosoboronexport, the state's arms trading monopoly, and Sukhoi, a maker of military and civilian aircraft. Also included are the Korean Mining & Industrial Development Corp. and Korea Pugang Trading Corp., both of North Korea; one Cuban company, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; and two Indian companies, Prachi Poly Products and Balaji Amines.

Elsewhere ...

China's toll rises: China's death toll from Tropical Storm Prapiroon rose to at least 31, with 14 more people missing, state media reported today.

Chris downgraded: Now a tropical depression, Chris could pump rain into South Florida on Sunday as its passes to the south - but it poses no serious danger, forecasters said.

[Last modified August 5, 2006, 01:35:06]