SALINAS RUNS FOR THE BORDER

Former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari has yet to appear in public in the United States, despite reports that he left Mexico last weekend for an American exile, perhaps in Boston. Salinas' reputation has plummeted at home and abroad since his older brother, Raul, was arrested two weeks ago for allegedly conspiring to kill a top Mexican official. Since then, the ex-president has taken much of the blame for the collapse of Mexico's economy. A hunger strike staged to demand that his name be cleared has done little to enhance his standing. Salinas and his family reportedly flew to New York Saturday after his hand-picked successor, President Ernesto Zedillo, asked him to leave the country. The White House today said it had no role in his departure and could not confirm that he was in the U.S.