Geneva  - Mexican Interior Minister Fernando Gomez Mont said Tuesday that while his country had progressed in terms of democracy and human rights in recent years it still had to strengthen the rule of law and overcome the challenges of poverty.

Specifically, the country needed to better combat human trafficking, prevent torture, protect indigenous peoples and end forced disappearances, said Gomez Mont said during his country's periodic review at the United Nations' Human Rights Council.

Mexico City - Mexican Labour Minister Javier Lozano rejected Tuesday the "alarmist" outlook of Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim, who has warned of impending economic doom for the country.

"It frankly alarmed me to see the way that he goes about his outlook," the fuming minister said in an interview with Mexican television channel Televisa.

Lozano and Slim both atteended the same "Mexico before the crisis" forum on Monday that was sponsored by Mexican legislators.

Mexico City  - Experts from 31 teams of private financial analysts have estimated that Mexico's GDP is set to shrink by 1.16 per cent during 2009, the country's Central Bank said Tuesday.

The same group, consulted by the Mexican Central Bank last month, estimated 1.62 per cent negative growth for the quarter ending in March.

In early January the bank estimated that the Mexican economy would shrink by 0.8-1.8 per cent this year, amid the severe global financial crisis.

Mexico City  - A rockfall in a Mexica