Mexico gives Army control of National Guard, sparks clash with UN…

By Diego OréMEXICO CITY (Reuters) ‑Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday defiantly dismissed criticism of his security policy by domestic adversaries and the United Nations after Congress voted to give the Army control over the civilian-led National Guard.By a margin of 71 to 51, senators early on Friday passed a bill ceding control of the National Guard to the Army, which has fed concerns about the militarization of public security.There were two abstentions, including the Senate leader of Lopez Obrador’s leftist ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), Ricardo Monreal. Mexico’s lower house of Congress had approved the legislation last week.The National Guard began operating in early 2019 at the behest of Lopez Obrador, who campaigned for office on a pledge to return the military to barracks after the years it …