Texas governor asked to halt execution

DALLAS, July 28 (UPI) -- Defense attorneys say efforts are continuing to delay next week's scheduled execution in Texas of Mexican national Jose Medellin.

Medellin's lawyers along with the U.S. attorney general and secretary of state want a delay so his case can be reviewed one more time at the behest of the International Court of Justice, The Dallas Morning News reported Monday.

Medellin was sentenced to die for the rape and killing of two teenagers in Houston but a treaty signed decades ago gives the International Court of Justice jurisdiction in certain cases involving foreign nationals.

A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Medellin's execution, putting the state of Texas at odds with the wishes of the federal government.

Medellin's attorneys have released a letter from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Attorney General Michael Mukasey asking Gov. Rick Perry to intervene.

A spokesman says Perry isn't willing to give a foreign national more protection under the law than a Texas citizen would receive.