Leftist Candidate Escalates Mexico Protest

By MARK STEVENSON
Associated Press Writer

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Officials on Wednesday planned to start a partial recount of votes from July's disputed presidential election, and supporters of leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador escalated their protests over allegations of electoral fraud.

Hundreds of Lopez Obrador activists on Tuesday blockaded the entrance to the Agriculture Department and forced open highway toll booths during rush hour - the latest in a wave of protests to demand a total recount of the presidential election.

Lopez Obrador was the runner-up in an official count that gave ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon an advantage of 0.6 percent, or about 240,000 votes out of more than 41 million cast.

The protests will continue all week, Lopez Obrador said, culminating in what he called an "extraordinary rally" in Mexico City on Sunday, the day officials are expected to finish recounting votes in about 9 percent of the nation's polling places.

"We are going to carry on our struggle," the silvery haired leftist told tens of thousands of supporters in the capital's central plaza Tuesday night. "We are sure we will triumph."