Int'l court urges Texas execution delay

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, July 16 (UPI) -- The International Court of Justice has urged the United States to delay the execution of a Mexican national on death row in Texas.

The court, based in The Hague, had earlier ruled that five Mexican prisoners had been denied their rights to visit with Mexican consular officials after their arrests. A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress mandating their cases be reviewed by Texas authorities.

One of the prisoners, Jose Medellin, is set for execution Aug. 5 for taking part in the gang rape and killing of two teenage girls, the BBC reported.

U.S. President George Bush ordered Texas to comply with an ICJ ruling made in 2004 that all the convicted men should get new hearings but the U.S. Supreme Court decided he had overstepped his authority, the broadcaster said.