SYLVESTER STALLONE - STALLONE DEFENDS MEXICANS, OPPOSES BORDER FENCE

SYLVESTER STALLONE used a promotional trip to Mexico yesterday (04JAN07) to blast plans to build a fence along the country's US border to keep illegal aliens out. Stallone, who visited Mexico City to promote his new film ROCKY BALBOA, told fans he has always been a fan of the Mexican work ethic. He even pays tribute to immigrants in his sixth ROCKY film - in one scene, his character (Balboa) defends his restaurant's immigrant cooks and waiters against slanderous comments. He told his Mexican fans, "I support Mexicans who work in my country." He went on to criticise US plans to keep Latinos out of America by erecting a 700-mile (1,126 kilometre) fence along the border, calling the idea "crazy" and "ridiculous."