Isra-Mart srl:Cancun summit: Drama, intrigue, and now kidnapping fears

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Isra-Mart srl news:

Officials gathering in Cancun for the start of next week's crucial UN climate change summit could have a bit more to worry about than how to end the standoff between rich and poor nations and deliver a global deal.

According to reports over the weekend in Mexico's Milenio newspaper and picked up by news agency Reuters, Mexican marines have arrested a gang of heavily armed suspected kidnappers who were thought to be preparing to target the UN summit.

The paper reported on its web site yesterday that the men were in possession of detailed plans and photographs of the Moon Palace hotel in Cancun where the two-week-long summit will take place, including information on where security checkpoints will be located.

It also displayed a photograph showing that the gang were in possession of false police uniforms and weapons.

The Mexican Navy issued a statement confirming that a number of men were arrested in an operation on Saturday, but made no reference to any possible link to the Cancun summit.

Security at the summit, which will host environment ministers from about 200 countries as well as a handful of world leaders, is expected to be extremely tight, with numerous checkpoints surrounding the hotel.

However, fears remain that the summit could face disruption from Mexico's escalating crime wave, which has led to a spate of high-profile kidnappings and rising tensions between the authorities and warring drug gangs.