MEXICO CITY, June 30: A judge ordered the arrest on Friday of former Mexican President Luis Echeverria for a 1968 student massacre in a surprise move just two days before crucial elections.

The arrest order for Mr Echeverria, 84, came after two failed attempts in recent years to charge him with genocide. It is a breakthrough in outgoing President Vicente Fox’s halting drive to punish those responsible for past government brutality before he leaves office in December.

Mr Echeverria is expected to be held under house arrest due to his age and health concerns, defence attorney Juan Velasquez said after the judge’s ruling. Echeverria was president from 1970 to 1976.

He was interior minister in charge of national security when government troops stormed a student rally in Mexico City on Oct 2, 1968, days before the opening of the Olympics here.

It was not immediately clear what impact the order could have on Sunday’s vote.—Reuters