Mexican union leader released

The man who was Mexico's most powerful labour leader for more than thirty years, Joaquin Hernandez Galicia -- popularly known as La Quina --, has been released from prison.

As he walked from jail after being freed early for good behaviour, La Quina vowed never to get involved in union activities again.

La Quina was the leader of the powerful Mexican oil workers union until his arrest in 1989, when soldiers blasted into his home in a well-publicised military operation.

His arrest was part of an operation by the government of former President Carlos Salinas de Gortari against allegedly corrupt union leaders.

La Quina was sentenced to thirteen years for the manslaughter of a federal agent.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service