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World Court urges U.S. to halt Mexicans' executions

Story Highlights
Bush administration argues World Court lacks jurisdiction in death penalty cases
World Court seeks to prevent imminent execution of five Mexicans
Court: U.S. should do everything in its power to halt executions until cases reviewed
"There undoubtedly is urgency," court's president says
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- The U.N.'s highest court on Wednesday ordered U.S. authorities to do everything in their power to halt the executions of five Mexicans on death row in Texas until their cases are reviewed.

U.S. legal adviser John Bellinger, left at lectern, addresses the World Court last month in The Hague.

The Bush administration has said the World Court does not have jurisdiction in the case.

The ruling followed hastily convened hearings last month at which Mexico argued that the United States is defying a 2004 order by the International Court of Justice to review the cases of 51 Mexicans sentenced to death by state courts.

That order was based on the court's finding that the condemned prisoners had been denied the right to help from their consulate following their arrest.

When the executions were cleared to go ahead despite that ruling, Mexico turned again to the court last month and asked the judges to issue an emergency injunction to stop the schedule of killings.

The World Court agreed Wednesday that it would consider Mexico's case and sought to prevent the imminent execution of five of the Mexicans.

"There undoubtedly is urgency," said the court's president, Rosalyn Higgins.

Higgins said U.S. authorities should "take all measures necessary to ensure that [the five Mexicans] are not executed pending judgment on the request for interpretation."

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