July 11, 2008, 12:52PM
Panel documents 8 cases of abuse by Mexican army



MEXICO CITY — Mexico's Human Rights Commission says it has documented eight new cases of military abuse and torture.

The cases include allegations that soldiers tortured an alleged drug runner at the border by shoving splinters of wood under his fingernails and toenails.

Soldiers also are accused of putting a tube down the man's throat to force him to drink alcoholic beverages and then leaving him passed out in the desert.

He survived and told investigators of the ordeal.

The cases were detailed today in Mexico City.

Mexico's military did not immediately respond. Nor have they publicly answered the commission's previous allegations of abuse.

More than 20,000 soldiers have been sent across Mexico to fight drug cartels.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/5883234.html