The World Court has ordered the Bush administration to halt the execution of five Mexican nationals sentenced on death row in the United States. The ruling came in a case that has seen the Mexican government accuse the US of failing to inform Mexican death row prisoners of their right to consular assistance. In the ruling, presiding judge Rosalyn Higgins said the World Court needs more time to review the case.

Judge Rosalyn Higgins: “The United States of America shall take all measures necessary to ensure that Messrs. Jose Ernesto Medellin Rojas, Cesar Roberto Fierro Reyna, Ruben Ramirez Cardenas, Humberto Leal Garcia and Roberto Moreno Ramos are not executed pending judgment on the request for interpretation submitted by the United Mexican States, unless and until these five Mexican nationals receive review and reconsideration.”

One of the five, Jose Medellin, is set for execution early next month.