The Mexican government has joined civil rights groups in the United States to criticize tough new laws against illegal immigrants in the American border state of Arizona. The Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said Mexico would do everything it could to defend the rights and the dignity of Mexicans in Arizona. The new law allows police to check the identity of anyone who may suspect of being an illegal immigrant. The State Governor Jan Brewer said the law would strengthen border controls.

"There is no higher priority than protecting the citizens of Arizona. We cannot sacrifice our safety to the murderous greed of drug cartels. We cannot stand idly by as kidnappings and violence compromise our quality of life."

Demonstrators in the Ukrainian capital Kiev have protested against the decision to extend the lease on a base serving Russia's Black Sea Fleet. The former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who led the protest, called on parliament to block the deal when it comes up for ratification. David Stern reports from Kiev.

Yulia Tymoshenko, now an opposition leader, called the treaty an unprecedented step of national treason and shame. The deal was announced last week after the Ukrainian and Russian presidents met in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. It permits Russia's Black Sea Fleet to keep its base in Sevastopol for at least another 25 years after the current lease expires in 2017 with an option to extend another five years. In return, Kiev will receive a 1/3 discount on the gas it buys from Moscow. The rally on Saturday was small but indicated that not all Ukrainians were pleased with their country's abruptly improved relations with Russia.