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Mexican Journalist Shot to Death in Eastern State of Veracruz

VOA News

   Prosecutors in Mexico are vowing to punish the person or personswho
   gunned down anewspaperjournalistearlier this week.

   MariaElenaFerral, a correspondent for theDiariodeXalapain the eastern
   state of Veracruz, was shot several timesMonday in the city ofPapantla.
   Police say Ferra was shot several times by a group of gunmen on
   motorbikesas she was getting into her car.

   Ferralhad complained many times in the past that she had received death
   threats andhad been harassed on numerous occasions.Veracruz state
   isplagued bydrug violence and police corruption.

   Mexico is notorious for being one of the world's most
   dangerouscountries for journalists. Over 100 journalists have been
   murdered in the Central American nation since2000.

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