Around the World

Accounts of ousted president frozen

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government said yesterday that it would freeze bank deposits belonging to ousted President Joseph Estrada, including the infamous account he allegedly opened under the name Jose Velarde.

The move, accompanied by an order prohibiting Estrada from leaving the country, is part of an effort to rein in the once-popular leader, who contends that he is still president and is merely on temporary leave.

New President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was Estrada's vice president, took office Saturday after the nation's military leaders abandoned the disgraced Estrada and joined mass protests against him.

One longtime friend who visited Estrada said the deposed president had been chastened by events and has no intention of trying to return to power.

"President Estrada is tired," the friend said. "He is humbled, and he is sorry for his mistakes. With this painful experience, he has become a new man. Before he was in a fighting mood, but now he says, 'OK.'"

Questions about Arroyo's legitimacy continued to dog her presidency yesterday, and rumors that pro-Estrada forces within the military would attempt to oust her swept through the capital.

Sting operation nabs Mexico official

MEXICO CITY - Even by Mexican standards of corruption, the case was jolting: In an apparent sting operation, police nabbed as a suspect the top federal law enforcement official overseeing the border drug-trafficking.

Norberto Suarez Gomez, the Mexican attorney general's chief representative in the state of Chihuahua, was arrested Dec. 30 on suspicion of trying to sell a law enforcement job for nearly half a million dollars.