Mexico: priest shot dead

A Mexican diocesan priest, Don Luis Velasques, was found yesterday shot to death in his car with his hands cuffed, in the city of Tijuana on the American border. Tijuana Bishop Rafael Romo, said: "The Church has been wounded," adding that Don Velasques "was very open and loved by the people." The Bishop also called on city residents to "unite in this battle against organised crime." Don Velasques, 51, ordained priest 20 years ago, was an expert in church law and judge of the ecclesiastic tribunal of the Tijuana diocese. He was assigned to the parish church of the Colinas de Agua Caliente neighbourhood, an area known for its drug gangs. Fr Luis is the latest victim in a chain of urban violence since the start of the year that has resulted in 330 dead in Tijuana. Source: MISNA