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BBC-US names allies in war on drugs



Saturday, February 27, 1999 Published at 06:03 GMT
World: Americas

US names allies in war on drugs

President Clinton is certifying the Mexican government as a fully
co-operative partner in the fight against illegal drugs.

The move has been criticised by Republicans in Congress who point to
large-scale cross-border drug smuggling and a decline in Mexico's seizures
of cocaine and heroin last year.

But Mr Clinton said the Mexican government was working hard to tackle the
illegal drugs trade and corruption among officials. He added that it would
be safer for the American people to fight drugs with Mexico rather than walk
away. In an annual review, President Clinton certified twenty-one other
countries, including Colombia which last year was listed as unco-operative.

Four countries -- Cambodia, Haiti, Nigeria, and Paraguay -- failed to meet
the standards but were certified on the grounds of United States national
interests.

Burma and Afghanistan both major producers of heroin remain on the blacklist
and subject to US sanctions.

>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service