Mexico candidate rejects court decision

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s leftist presidential candidate rejected a court decision upholding his rival’s slim lead in the disputed July 2 race and called on his supporters not to recognise a government led by Felipe Calderon.

Earlier Monday, the Federal Electoral Tribunal released the results of a partial recount that reduced Calderon’s lead by just over 4 000 votes, not enough to the outcome. The court, however, stopped short of declaring a winner, saying it must still do an official tally and decide whether to annul the election entirely.The deadline is both cases is September 6.Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador likened the decision to a coup, saying the judges represented the interests of Mexico’s ruling elite.”We will never again allow an illegal and illegitimate government to be installed in our country,” he told thousands of supporters camped out Mexico City’s main plaza, the Zocalo.Demonstrators have occupied the plaza for weeks, and Lopez Obrador has called a rally there on Sept.16, Mexico’s Independence Day, to unveil an “alternative” government.The former Mexico City mayor claims fraud was responsible for Calderon’s lead, alleging that electoral officials have reverted to crooked practices once common before President Vicente Fox’s victory ended 71 years of one-party rule.Fox leaves office December 1, like all Mexican presidents limited to a single, six-year term. wnThe court, however, stopped short of declaring a winner, saying it must still do an official tally and decide whether to annul the election entirely.The deadline is both cases is September 6.Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador likened the decision to a coup, saying the judges represented the interests of Mexico’s ruling elite.”We will never again allow an illegal and illegitimate government to be installed in our country,” he told thousands of supporters camped out Mexico City’s main plaza, the Zocalo.Demonstrators have occupied the plaza for weeks, and Lopez Obrador has called a rally there on Sept.16, Mexico’s Independence Day, to unveil an “alternative” government.The former Mexico City mayor claims fraud was responsible for Calderon’s lead, alleging that electoral officials have reverted to crooked practices once common before President Vicente Fox’s victory ended 71 years of one-party rule.Fox leaves office December 1, like all Mexican presidents limited to a single, six-year term. wn