Mexico leader says he will help 100 poorest towns

By Ioan Grillo
Associated Press
Dec. 7, 2006 07:52 AM

MEXICO CITY - Newly inaugurated President Felipe Calderon announced a program Wednesday to help Mexico's 100 poorest communities, responding to leftist critics who accuse the conservative leader of wanting to help only the rich.

Traveling by helicopter to Tlacoachistlahuaca, a desperately poor, largely Indian community a few miles from the Pacific resort of Acapulco, Calderon promised to pave and light the town's streets and build a proper drainage system. He also pledged to build or improve about 2,500 houses at a cost of about $4 million.

"Beyond the colors of political parties there is only one Mexico, a Mexico drowned in poverty and marginalization, and a Mexico that wants politicians to get to work," Calderon told families in the town's square.

Calderon said his anti-poverty program will draw money from several federal agencies and will be repeated in 100 deeply poor towns where people suffer from malnutrition and disease and lack properly maintained roads and clean water.