Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto partly vetoes anti-corruption bill

Mexico City: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Thursday vetoed a section of anti-corruption legislation that angered business leaders by requiring firms and individuals who win government contracts to make their assets and interests public.

Congress approved seven bills last week to create a National Anti-Corruption System in a country plagued by graft that costs it billions of dollars per year.

But the business community, which had pressed lawmakers to pass the sweeping anti-graft legislation, criticized a measure added at the last minute and backed by Pena Nieto`s ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

Pena Nieto met with business leaders this week.

"The government has carefully listened to the voices that argue that this measure is excessive and would make the National Anti-Corruption System inoperable, as it would be impossible to process millions and millions of (asset) declarations," Humberto Castillejos, Pena Nieto`s legal adviser, said in televised remarks.

The president requested Congress to hold an extraordinary session to change the legislation, Castillejos said.