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The Americas

Video of apparent execution a problem for Mexican government

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    This screen shot of a video taken on May 3, 2017 shows army soldiers standing next to detained men in Palmarito, Puebla state, Mexico. The video released by Mexican media outlets appears to show a soldier shooting a wounded man in the back of his head as he lay on the ground during an encounter between the army and gunmen defending their fuel theft business. In total, the day’s combat left dead six civilians and four soldiers. (Diario Cambio via APTN) (The Associated Press)

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    This frame grab of a video taken on Friday, May 12, 2017 shows forensic specialists inspecting the area where, allegedly a detained man was killed by soldiers last week in Palmarito, Puebla state, Mexico. The video appears to show a soldier shooting a wounded man in the back of his head as he lay on the ground during a May 3 encounter between the army and gunmen defending their fuel theft business. In total, the day’s combat left dead six civilians and four soldiers.(Milenio via APTN) (The Associated Press)

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    Bullet holes mark a window at a home near an intersection where a video released by Mexican media outlets appeared to show a soldier executing a civilian lying face down in the street with a shot to the back of his head, in Palmarito Tochapan, Puebla State, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The footage purportedly depicts a portion of the military's encounter with fuel pipeline thieves in that the government said left 10 dead. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (The Associated Press)

MEXICO CITY – The apparent execution of a wounded fuel theft suspect by a Mexican soldier caught on video has provided graphic evidence of a long-suspected practice and put the government in an awkward spot as it tries to pass a security law critics say could shield troops.

Outrage at the surveillance camera video posted by media this week was swift from human rights groups, which claimed it provided rare evidence of an extrajudicial execution. But President Enrique Pena Nieto has limited his public comments to saying there should be an investigation.

And it remains unclear how the images will affect public perception of the military's role in combating organized crime as lawmakers debate a law that Pena Nieto has said is needed to give "certainty" to the military in its policing role.