Head of Mexico's powerful Teachers' Union arrested

(Vatican Radio) The veteran leader of Mexico's Teachers' Union has been arrested and is accused of embezzling more than 156 million dollars. The arrest of Elba Esther Gordillo, came just one day, after Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto announced the most sweeping education reforms in living memory. They include ending monopolies of jobs being sold or passed down, and performance related pay. Mexico's Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam says the accusations which cover Elba Esther Gordillo's 23 years in power, centre on bank accounts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, a private jet, a house in San Diego, and thousands spent on plastic surgery.
Elba Esther Gordillo was expelled from the Institutional Revolutionary Party PRI in 2006, but still managed to field her own Candidate against Enrique Peña Nieto in last July's Presidential Election. She's currently being held in Santa Marta Women’s Prison in Mexico City.

Listen to the report by correspondent James Blears: