Oilman challenges Mexican authorities

Montemayor is accused of funding the PRI's candidate

A former director of Mexico's state oil company Pemex has surrendered to the authorities in the United States in a bid to fight fraud charges at home which he says are politically motivated.

Rogelio Montemayor handed himself in at the federal courthouse in Houston, Texas, even though there is no US warrant for his arrest.

My decisions were at all times made following the law and having the best interest of Pemex at heart

Rogelio Montemayor

Correspondents say the move is a bid to force Mexico into applying for his extradition over his alleged misuse of hundreds of millions of dollars for political ends.

But a US attorney in Houston said that no request for action had yet been made by the Mexican Government.

"We stand ready to provide all possible assistance consistent with the terms of our mutual legal assistance treaties... should we be asked to do so," said Michael Shelby.

Waiting for warrant

Extradition law limits the ability of Mexican prosecutors to expand charges against the ex-head of Pemex - who strongly protests his innocence - once he is back in the country.

Mr Montemayor is apparently now waiting at the courtroom for a warrant to be drawn up.

A Mexican federal arrest warrant issued on 8 May accuses him and three former associates of embezzling and misusing public finds in 2000.

They allegedly diverted at least $170m through the oil workers' union to the campaign funds of the then-ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

When the PRI lost the presidential election, after 71 years in power, the winner, Vicente Fox, vowed to root out corruption.

Correspondents say the Pemex case is being seen as a key test for the new president.

'Lynch mob'

Mr Montemayor says all money transfers to the union were legal and that he is determined to prove his innocence.

Fox is under pressure to deliver on "clean hands" promise

"My resolve is to prove my innocence and the innocence of those who worked with me," he said in a statement.

"My decisions [as Pemex head] were at all times made following the law and having the best interest of Pemex at heart."

Mr Montemayor accuses Mexican prosecutors of "outrageous abuses of power" and says he and his family are at risk from a "lynch-mob environment".

A lawyer for the former oilman, Mike DeGeurin, said the case was wrapped up in politics.

"Our main focus is to take this thing out of the politics and put it in the courts," he said.