Mexico's first lady defends sons

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- Mexican first lady Marta Sahagun lashed back Friday at a congressional committee that demanded a criminal investigation into allegations two sons flew presidential jets to government houses to seal illegal real estate deals totaling more than $30 million.

Sahagun accused the committee's president, Jesus Gonzalez Schmal, of trying to defame her family and called him a "liar."

"I demand an apology," she said in a news release. "Otherwise, I will continue defending until the end, always within the law, my family's good name."

For more than a year, the committee has been investigating Manuel and Jorge Alberto Bribiesca, and in May it produced boxes of evidence it claimed proves they conspired to buy government properties at a fraction of their worth. The evidence included copies of checks allegedly used to make the purchases.

In a news conference Thursday, committee member Martha Palafox of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party said Sahagun also was involved.

"It was she who flaunted her abuse of power and gave the green light to her family, her sons, to carry out this robbery of the nation," she said.

The president and the first lady have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The two sons are from Sahagun's first marriage. Sahagun and Fox, who wed in 2001, have no children together.

The federal attorney general's office is still deciding whether to bring fraud or corruption charges. The brothers have denied the allegations.

Fox, who promised to crack down on government corruption, steps down December 1. Mexican presidents are limited to a single six-year term.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



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