The European Parliament is calling on President Ernesto Zedillo, to punish those responsible for the massacre of 45 peasants last month.

After the funeral of the latest victim of political violence in Mexico, MEPs are calling on the Mexican government to carry out an "objective, effective inquiry" into the pre-Christmas mass-killings in the southern state of Chiapas.

In a resolution they said the objective of the inquiry should be to "identify those responsible for instigating and perpetrating the massacre and bring them to trial, so as to demonstrate that crime does not go unpunished."

Government allies blamed

At least one senior Mexican police officer has already been charged in connection with the massacre, which are widely blamed on paramilitaries linked to Mexico's ruling party.

But the EU legislators did not go as far as approving a proposal drafted by left-wing euro-deputies to suspend the process of ratification of the trade agreement between the EU and Mexico signed in December.

However, they said the only way President Zedillo could bring peace was through a negotiated settlement with the rebels.

The EU made its intervention following the funeral of a Zapatista supporter killed by police on Monday. Guadalupe Mendez Lopez was shot near the town of Ocosingo Chiapas after she had attended a demonstration to protest against the December massacre.

Outcry at killing draws reform pledge

Following the death thousands of people have staged peaceful protests in the region, blocking highways and occupying state buildings.

The outcry following the killing has also spurred the Governor of Chiapas Roberto Albores Guillen to announce a major restructuring of the region's police force. Mr Albores said the Chiapas police force would be placed under the command of the state attorney general's office.

In addition, the force will admit more women in future and provide greater training, particularly in human rights issues.
 

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