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Mexican President Vicente Fox on Thursday rejected the United States-led military attack on Iraq and announced that citizens of the Latin American country will collaborate with the international community in undertaking humanitarian relief tasks.
In the first public statement issued by Fox since the start of the US-led military operation on Wednesday night, Fox reiterated that his country's position is "definitely not war," and that Mexico always supports seeking a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis.
About 54 percent of the Mexican population considers US President George W. Bush and his allies as bearing the responsibility for attacking Iraq, according to an opinion poll released by local daily Reforma.
Fox said measures had been taken to guarantee the security of Mexicans and maintain a terrorist-free border without affecting the flow of goods and people.
Security has been beefed up at airports, ports, borders, oil, nuclear and other strategic facilities. The number of Federal Preventive Police (PFP) agents on Mexican highways has increased since 20:45 p.m. local time (0445 GMT) on Wednesday.
The Mexican government also deployed 18,000 troops to reinforce the police force.
In a press release issued by the presidential office on Thursday, the government also adopted extra measures to guard the US embassy and consulate in the country, as well as the life and interest of US citizens living in Mexico.
(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2003)
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