Lopez Obrador continues protest

Source: CCTV.com

09-04-2006 11:26

Political protests are continuing in Mexico, with leftist opposition leader Manuel Andres Lopez Obrador refusing to recognize his right-wing rival as president. Vowing to establish a parallel government, he's announced plans to draft a new constitution for the country.

For more than a month Lopez Obrador and his supporters have occupied Mexico's giant Zocalo square, the symbolic center of power since Aztec times. Demonstrating against presidential election results Lopez Obrador says they have no other alternative but to defend democracy.

He's declared he will never recognize a victory by ruling-party candidate Felipe Calderon and will declare himself as the alternative president.

Obrador said:"I reiterate this is not a personal issue, it's a collective cause. If it was because I want power, we would have already negotiated or accepted the conditions imposed by the political mafia."

The federal Electoral Tribunal is expected to declare Felipe Calderon, a former energy secretary, president-elect this week.

Lopez Obrador claims fraud and dirty tricks in the election. He's called supporters to a mass meeting at Mexico City's central plaza on September the 16th - the same day and place Mexico's army will stage their annual parade.

Lopez Obrador, the former Mexico City mayor, is planning a democratic convention that day, when he will declare his parallel government.

Reiterating his claim that the nation is run by a small group of elite, Lopez Obrador said delegates will arrive from across the country to Mexico City this week, to begin working on a new constitution "by the people, for the people."

Editor:Luyuying