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Third Local Candidate in Mexico's July 1 Voting Killed in Week

by Associated Press

   MEXICO CITY --

   For the third time in a week, gunmen have killed a candidate for a
   local office in Mexico's July 1 elections.

   More than a dozen candidates for mayorships or state assembly seats
   have been killed so far in the campaign, most in the southern state of
   Guerrero.

   Friday's killing occurred in the north-central state of Guanajuato. The
   state prosecutor's office confirmed that the mayoral candidate in the
   town of Apaseo El Alto had been killed. Candidate Remedio Aguirre was
   running for the leftist Morena party.

   The party's candidate for governor, Ricardo Sheffield, said Morena's
   campaigns in Guanajuato would be suspended until officials guaranteed
   the safety of the contenders.

   Apaseo has been the scene of continuing violence involving fuel theft
   from government pipelines and train robberies.