Mexico unsatisfied with Britain's explanation on trapped cavers

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, March 27, 2004

Mexico unsatisfied with Britain's explanation on trapped cavers

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Mexican President Vicente Fox declared Friday he was not satisfied with the explanation from Britain on the tasks carried out by the six speleologists trapped in partly flooded caverns in the central Puebla state, 180 kilometers north of the capital Mexico City.

"We have requested an explanation from England and there is an answer but it is honestly not satisfactory," Fox said at a press conference at the presidential palace in Managua, Nicaragua's capital, where his two-day official visit will end Friday.

The six British cavers were trapped in the Alpazat Puebla cavern. British and Mexican specialists rescued them Thursday under the supervision of the Mexican army.

The speleologists who at first refused aid by Mexican authorities have not yet explained the motive of their mission, a subject that caused a row between Mexico and Britain.

President Vicente Fox ordered the foreign minister to send a letter of protest to London and demanded an explanation for the British expedition along with the situation and aims of the six speleologists trapped in Puebla, including several military personnel.

"We are asking the British government to tell us whether these people are military personnel, and if they are, what they are doing there," Fox told reporters. The letter of protest accused the cavers of being serving armed forces members and entering the country on tourist visas.

Mexican immigration officers said that the Britons had entered Mexico in late February with just tourist visas and without notifying authorities of their caving trip. But scientific and exploration teams require special visas in Mexico, and laws prohibit training exercises by foreign military forces.

The expedition was reportedly planned by Britain's Combined Services, which includes members of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Vicente Fox said that now that the Britons have been rescued they "will also be subjected to a probe conducted by ourselves to find out exactly" what they were doing on Mexican soil.

Source:Xinhua

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