Summary The crusading host of Mexico's top-rated national news radio program has been fired
MEXICO CITY: (AP) - The crusading host of Mexico s top-rated national news radio program has been fired in a case that many fear is a blow to freedom of expression.
MVS Radio said Sunday that Carmen Aristegui was removed for challenging the firing of two reporters who had misused the company s name by suggesting it was a sponsor of MexicoLeaks, a Wikileaks-like website meant to reveal leaked information on corruption in Mexico.
The company said in a statement that it could not accept "an ultimatum."
But defenders of Aristegui noted that the firing came a few months after the same reporters had embarrassed President Enrique Pena Nieto by revealing his wife was purchasing a house with financing from a frequent government contractor. Pena Nieto has denied any wrongdoing.
The report was one of several blows to the president s image, including criticism of its investigation in the disappearance and presumed death of 43 teachers school students, who were apparently seized by city police and turned over to a drug gang.
Investigations and critical commentary on Aristegui s program had made it enormously popular and her ouster prompted a wave of protest. The top trend on Twitter in Mexico on Monday was a series of messages calling for support of the journalist.
Several leading analysts said they would break their relationship with the broadcasting company.
"MVS terminates its relationship with Carmen Aristegui. I terminate my relationship with MVS," said political analyst Denise Dresser.
"Carmen Aristegui is an indispensable voice in our public life," said one of Mexico s leading historians, Enrique Krauze, on his Twitter account. "Her departure from MVS seriously injures freedom of expression in Mexico."
Aristegui continues to have a daily program on CNN s Spanish-language service.
