Mexican army to heed Supreme Court rights opinion

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican Army, Navy and Interior Department say they will respect a Supreme Court opinion that rights abuses cases involving military personnel should be tried in civilian courts.

The joint statement says the armed forces will cooperate in implementing the court opinion.

The statement issued late Tuesday stops short of saying military tribunals will turn over all such cases to civilian courts.

But it does say the armed forces will "strengthen the application of military jurisdiction in conserving military discipline."

Some soldiers have been accused of shooting civilians, conducting illegal searches and detentions. Almost all such cases have wound up in military tribunals.