By E. Eduardo Castillo, Associated Press

 MEXICO CITY - Opposition legislators implored President Vicente Fox yesterday to abstain from
 a UN human rights vote criticizing longtime Mexico ally Cuba.

 Last year, the Fox administration supported a UN resolution censuring the government of Cuban
 President Fidel Castro for its oppression of political movements.

 The vote in the Human Rights Commission cooled traditionally warm Mexican-Cuban relations.

 The heads of the four opposition parties in the lower house signed a letter asking Mexico to abstain
 in the vote expected next week in Geneva. Lawmakers from Fox's National Action Party refused t
 o sign.

 Uruguay, Peru, and Costa Rica have drafted a resolution they claim does not seek to punish Cuba,
 but would allow human rights representatives to visit the island.

 The letter said that resolution was heavily influenced by the United States' opposition to Cuba's
 government.

 This week, Cuba sentenced 75 political dissidents to prison terms ranging from six to 28 years in
 trials that never last more than a day. The cases have drawn international criticism and could affect
 the human rights vote.

 Mexico is the only Latin American country that didn't break diplomatic ties with Cuba after Castro
 came to power in 1959. It has maintained warm relations with the island by traditionally abstaining
 from the human rights commission's annual vote.

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