Mexico’s president names new interior minister

Mexican President Felipe Calderon reached deep into his conservative political party Monday to name a new interior minister, replacing the senior official killed last week in a still-unexplained plane crash. Fernando Gomez Mont, a prominent criminal lawyer and son of one of the founders of the National Action Party, or PAN, will assume the second-most-important government post at an especially critical time in Mexican history. A raging drug war has claimed thousands of lives, and political forces are badly divided over economic reform and a host of pressing issues. The appointment of Gomez Mont, who has served in a number of party and legislative posts and litigated numerous high-profile cases, won praise from PAN loyalists. However, it was criticized by analysts who questioned whether he was qualified for the sensitive job, which includes managing law enforcement and elections.