Senior Mexican politician kidnapped

Reports from Mexico say one of the country's most influential politicians, Fernando Gutierrez Barrios, has been kidnapped.

Mr Gutierrez was the former Interior Minister and has played a key role in the country's intelligence services for more than thirty years.

Interior Ministry sources say the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of around ten million dollars for his release.

Correspondents say Mr Gutierrez had a number of enemies in Mexico, where kidnappings have risen in recent years.

His family has denied the reports saying he is on holiday.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service