Mexico Candidate Rejects Court Decision

By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/DARIO LOPEZ-MILLS

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- 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 recognize 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 Sept. 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.

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Mexico court rejects claims of vote fraud

By Chris Aspin
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
Published August 29, 2006

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's top electoral court yesterday threw out leftists' claims of massive fraud in last month's presidential election, almost certainly handing victory to conservative candidate Felipe Calderon.
The seven judges voted unanimously to reject most of the legal complaints by left-wing candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who said he was robbed of victory in the July 2 vote.
The judges, whose rulings are final and cannot be appealed, must declare a president-elect by Sept. 6.
Mr. Lopez Obrador reacted in outrage, calling on supporters to reject Mr. Calderon as president.
"Never more will we accept that an illegal and illegitimate government is installed in our country," he told thousands gathered in Mexico City's central plaza, the Associated Press reported.