... Open fire on Mexican newspaper
published: Thursday | August 10, 2006

OAXACA, Mexico (AP):

Gunmen opened fire yesterday inside the offices of a newspaper critical of the Oaxaca state government, injuring at least two people in this historic Mexican city already reeling from months of street protests.

Reporter Octavio Velez Ascencio said two assailants barged into the offices of The Noticias newspaper at 7:30 a.m., attacking and threatening employees and carriers who were picking up the day's papers to sell.

Police said one worker suffered a minor gunshot wound and another had been beaten. Velez said four people were injured, but did not give details.

No arrests

Authorities had made no arrests and had not determined a motive.

In March, a Mexican federal judge ordered a union dominated by the state's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, to disband pickets that for nine months shuttered the main offices of the newspaper, which had been critical of officials in southern Oaxaca state.