Source:
BloombergMexican Pipeline Blast Prompts Factory Shutdowns (Update3)
By Thomas Black and Adriana Arai
July 11 (Bloomberg) -- More than 100 companies in Mexico including automaker Nissan Motor Co. and cereal maker Kellogg Co. reduced or suspended production after a pipeline explosion yesterday interrupted natural gas supplies.
The blast in the central state of Queretaro damaged a 36- inch pipeline operated by state-owned oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos, cutting supplies to the cities of Guadalajara, Queretaro, Aguascalientes and Leon. A guerilla group that calls itself the Popular Revolutionary Army claimed responsibility. ~snip~
The attorney general's office, Mexico's top enforcement ministry, said today in an e-mail that the people the armed group demanded be freed aren't in federal custody or prisons. The ministry said it's looking into whether they have been detained by state or city authorities. ~snip~
The rebel group also claimed responsibility for two explosions last week on a separate Petroleos Mexicanos gas pipeline in Guanajuato state that prompted the evacuation of 4,100 people. The blasts damaged nearby gasoline and gas-liquids lines. ~snip~
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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aOC2l_Tn1UlU&refer=latin_america
July 11, 2007, 7:34AM
Guerrillas claim to be behind Mexico explosions
Eight attacks on pipelines have caused shortage of gas for industries
MEXICO CITY — An obscure guerrilla group that has been barely active for a decade took responsibility Tuesday for a recent series of pipeline explosions in central Mexico.
The People's Revolutionary Army, which until now has been active mostly in Guerrero, Oaxaca, and other southern Mexican states, said in a communique that "several platoons" of its militants blew up the pipelines in the past week as part of a new campaign.
"The order to begin a national campaign of punishing the interests of the oligarchy and this illegitimate government has been put in play," said the statement. ~snip~
The guerrilla communique said militants from the group — known by its Spanish acronym, EPR — planted eight explosive devices at pipelines near the cities of Celaya and Salamanca in Guanajuato state last Thursday and another in a town in neighboring Queretaro state early Tuesday. ~snip~
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4958205.htmlArmy guards Mexico oil industry after threat
Catherine Bremer, Reuters
Published: Wednesday, July 11, 2007
By DUDLEY ALTHAUS
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Mexico City Bureau
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Extra soldiers and federal police were deployed to guard Mexico's oil wells and pipelines on Wednesday after a rebel group said it caused explosions at fuel pipelines as part of an anti-government campaign.
State oil monopoly Pemex, a major U.S. supplier, said it beefed up its police and army presence at installations after the left-wing Popular Revolutionary Army, or EPR, said on Tuesday it was behind attacks on four pipelines in the past week. It vowed to carry out further attacks.
Pemex added two extra helicopters to its surveillance operations and was working with the defense ministry and federal police on the best way to guard the country's pipelines, which stretch over 14,000 km (8,700 miles). ~snip~
Despite the swift response, some commentators in Mexico say they are skeptical of the tiny rebel group's ability to conduct a serious guerrilla campaign. ~snip~
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=02dccc91-59ed-45ec-bc93-5ede4df457cc&k=93181