Mexico decriminalizes libel, defamation

Mexican President Felipe Calderon signed a law Thursday eliminating prison sentences for libel or defamation, drawing praise from media watchdog groups.

Press organizations have said that jail terms for those offenses allowed public figures to retaliate against reporters by threatening lock them up. Both offenses will now be punishable by fines, and violators can face civil suits.

"We are taking a historic step in the struggle to consolidate and strengthen the work of the news media," Calderon said at the bill's signing. "Thanks to this reform, journalists can do their job without fear of being jailed on complaints filed by those who feel they have been affected by their reporting."

"Decriminalization is a positive step for Mexican democracy," said Gonzalo Marroquin, president of the press freedom committee of the Inter American Press Association. "We hope this step will be taken into account by other leaders in Latin America."