The Attorney-General's office in Mexico has asked for a maximum fifty-year prison sentence to be imposed on Raul Salinas, the brother of the former president, Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

Prosecutors allege that Raul Salinas masterminded the assassination in 1994 of a top official in the governing party, Jose Francisco Ruiz Massieu, who was also his brother-in-law.

Mr Salinas has denied the accusations and his lawyers will now present their case to the trial judge.

Mr Salinas has been held in a maximum secruity jail since his arrest three years ago.

He's also being investigated by the authorities in Switzerland for laundering drugs money through Swiss bank accounts - Mr Salinas has always maintained his innocence.