MEXICO CITY
Magazine editor who linked official with drug traffickers killed in Mexico
Associated Press
The editor of a weekly magazine in northern Mexico was gunned down by unknown assailants, apparently after filing a report linking an ex-mayor with drug traffickers.
The international group Reporters Without Borders sent a letter to Interior Secretary Santiago Creel yesterday protesting the slaying of Felix Alonso Fernandez Garcia last Friday in the northern state of Tamaulipas.
Fernandez, editor of the weekly magazine Nueva Opci—n (New Option), was shot to death as he was getting into his car in the border city of Miguel Aleman, state law enforcement officials said.
According to Reporters Without Borders, a France-based international organization advocating press freedom, the editor had recently written a story denouncing the alleged connection between Miguel Aleman's ex-mayor and drug traffickers.
Just days before his death, Fernandez filed a complaint with police alleging that the ex-mayor wanted to kill him, said a news release the organization issued yesterday.
"This killing is evidence of the difficult situation journalists are in in this part of the country, where they clash with drug traffickers," the organization's secretary-general, Robert Menard, said in the release.
The group said it has asked Creel to "use all means at his disposal to identify and punish those responsible."
Francisco Cayuela Villareal, head of the Tamaulipas state prosecutor's office, said investigators were looking at the slaying as a possible vengeance killing, but said there also were suspicions surrounding the victim.
Villareal said officers had found 35 grams (1.2 ounces) of cocaine in Fernandez's car, "an amount that would be too much for immediate consumption, but that would be for sale."
He also said that it was suspicious that Fernandez had two bodyguards.
"No journalist, regardless of how important he is, would be in a financial condition to pay the services of bodyguards, who charge some 20,000 to 25,000 pesos ($2,700)," the government news agency Notimex quoted the state prosecutor as saying.
Villareal also said that one of the bodyguards has a criminal record including homicide and drug trafficking and that there is another arrest warrant pending against him. He did not elaborate.
NEW YORK
FBI alleges mob's 'Oddfather,' Vinny the Chin, still runs Genovese crime family
Associated Press
Imprisoned mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, who dodged prosecution for years by claiming mental illness, was indicted yesterday on new charges alleging he still runs the powerful Genovese family from behind bars.
Gigante, 74, and Genovese members allegedly infiltrated the International Longshoremen's Association and ran extortion rackets against companies operating at piers in New York, New Jersey and Miami, the indictment said.
"Vincent 'The Chin' Gigante is truly the boss of the Genovese crime family," said Barry Mawn, head of the FBI's New York office. "He is a 'hands on' leader who remains actively involved in the running of the organization."
Gigante was dubbed "The Oddfather" for his habit of wandering New York City in a bathrobe and mumbling to himself. Authorities have long alleged that his behavior was a dodge to avoid prosecution.
Gigante's attorney, Michael Marinaccio, said he could not comment because he had not yet seen the indictment.
Also indicted were Gigante's son, 45-year-old Andrew Gigante, and six other alleged Genovese members. The indictment said the younger Gigante relayed orders from his father.
The indictment's top counts of racketeering, extortion and money-laundering carry a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Vincent Gigante is already serving 12 years on a 1997 conviction on charges of racketeering and murder conspiracy. He faces a charge of obstruction of justice for repeatedly delaying his trial with claims of mental illness.
DENVER
Qwest Communications reports improvements in customer service 2001
Associated Press
Qwest Communications International said it nearly eliminated delays in phone-installation and repair services last year as part of its efforts to win federal approval to offer long-distance in its 14-state region.
The Denver-based telecommunications company said the results mark the second consecutive year of improvements and the best annual results since 1995.
"We promised to improve customer service and I'm delighted to say we're continuing to report, quarter after quarter, improvements in these services," Qwest President Afshin Mohebbi said yesterday.
A telephone message seeking comment from Colorado regulatory officials was not immediately returned.
Qwest has provided quarterly updates on service improvements since acquiring U.S. West in June 2000. The improvements are key to Qwest's bid to re-enter the long distance market in U S West's former territory. Qwest also must prove to federal and state regulators that its network and markets are open to competition.
In its year-end report, Qwest officials said the company met about 99 percent of its 22 million installation commitments on time and nearly 95 percent of its repair commitments.
About 89 percent of service failures were fixed in fewer than 24 hours, a 10 percent improvement over 2000. Fewer than 10 customers in the 14-state region had to wait more than a month for new phone service in 2001.
Qwest had 22 million requests for service during 2001.
Mohebbi, also the chief operating officer, predicted the company would be offering long distance service by the end of June to customers in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Iowa.
The Federal Communications Commission recognized Qwest in December as a leading provider in its annual service quality report, which showed improvements by Qwest in residential and out-of-service repairs and on-time installations.
In a related development, the company's recent announcement that it would share customer account and calling information with other companies has drawn criticism.
Attorneys general in 37 states have asked the FCC to force Qwest to change their plan so customers will have to notify the company only if they approve of having their calling information shared, instead of the other way around.
Qwest has said it would delay until March 29 any transfer of information about its 12.5 million customers within its family of companies.
