Mexican President condemns attack on renowned journalist
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador condemned an apparent assassination attempt on a prominent news anchor and critic of the president who said assailants had opened fire on him while he was driving his car.
Television and radio presenter Ciro Gomez Leyva said two unidentified people on a motorcycle had shot at him around 200 meters from his home last week, and shared images of bullet impacts on the vehicle.
Thanks to the vehicle's armour, he was still alive, he said. Gomez was back on the air on his morning radio show.
Lopez Obrador, who has repeatedly lambasted Gomez and other prominent journalists critical of his policies, opened his daily morning conference by denouncing the attack.
"He's a journalist, a human being, but he's also a leader of public opinion. Hurting a figure like Ciro creates a lot of political instability," Lopez Obrador said.
"Imagine if you just listened to Ciro or Loret de Mola or Sarmiento," Lopez Obrador said, naming him and other leading journalists. "It's even bad for your health, I mean if you listen to them a lot, you could even develop a brain tumour."
Mexico is the world's most dangerous country for journalists, according to a report published by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.
The report identified 11 killings of media professionals this year, though other groups have documented a higher number.
