IN BRIEF / MEXICO

DRUG LORD'S BID TO ESCAPE PRISON IS FOILED

A former drug lord tried but failed to escape with guards' help from a
maximum-security prison in western Mexico a day after authorities told him
he would be extradited to the U.S.

Federal police said guards removed Hector Palma, of the Sinaloa drug
cartel, from his cell and escorted him to an unauthorized visit with his
family.

As guards were returning him to his cell, the power went off and guards led
him to a low-security prison courtroom. Authorities staffing an off-site
monitoring system grew suspicious and foiled the escape bid.