By NATALIA PARRA, Associated Press Writer
Sat Apr 7, 4:30 AM ET

ACAPULCO, Mexico - The Acapulco correspondent for Mexico's top television news network was shot to death late Friday, the latest in a wave of journalist killings that has made Mexico one of the most dangerous countries for reporters in the Western Hemisphere.

Televisa's Amado Ramirez was shot by two gunmen who were waiting for him at his car after his radio show, state security official Felipe Flores said. He died on the steps of the nearby Hotel California as he tried to escape. Televisa confirmed the death on their nightly broadcast.

The shooting happened on the outskirts of Acapulco's busy central plaza, which was packed at the time with tourists and hundreds of people attending a Good Friday Mass at the resort's cathedral. No one else was injured.

The gunmen escaped, and the motive for the killing was not immediately clear.

Ramirez had covered Acapulco for Televisa for more than a dozen years, reporting on everything from crime to politics.

His radio program on Friday focused on criticizing leftist Guerrero state Gov. Zeferino Torreblanca for refusing to give his second state-of-the-state address in front of state lawmakers. The governor instead chose to give his report in written form.

The Miami-based Inter-American Press Association has reported an alarming number of journalists slain in Mexico, on orders from drug gangs, with seven journalists killed since October, two disappeared and eight reporting death threats.

Since taking office Dec. 1, conservative Mexican President Felipe Calderon has sent federal police and soldiers into drug strongholds across Mexico, including Acapulco, but violence continues.

Also Friday evening in Acapulco, a shootout between police and alleged kidnappers left one suspect dead and another wounded, Flores said. A businessman believed to have been held by the kidnappers was released unharmed.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070407/ap_ ... r_killed_3