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Protesters vow to disrupt address by Fox today

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 1, 2006

MEXICO CITY - Congress was surrounded by police, soldiers and towering concrete and metal barriers Thursday in advance of President Vicente Fox's state-of-the-nation address, which is shaping up to be a major showdown with protesters demanding a recount of the July 2 election results.

Fox's speech today could be the catalyst that turns the dispute over the election into a bloody rebellion, as activists vow to keep the Mexican leader from reaching Congress to deliver the last annual address of his six-year term.

Some lawmakers have suggested Fox give the speech over a video link to avoid violent confrontation. Others have said he should hand over his annual report as specified in the constitution, then leave without giving a speech. Fox says he will deliver the address no matter what.

Thousands of supporters of leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, already camped out on Mexico City's elegant Reforma Avenue and main Zocalo plaza in mostly peaceful protests, have promised to block streets and take other actions to stop the president.

"Security teams better not touch a hair on the heads of our comrades and fellow lawmakers," said Gerardo Fernandez, a spokesman for Lopez Obrador's Democratic Revolution Party.

Ruling National Action Party lawmakers countered that they will take action if anyone tries to attack the president.

Mexico's highest electoral court has yet to resolve who will replace Fox when he steps down on Dec. 1, having served his constitutionally mandated single term.

A court-ordered partial recount reduced ruling-party candidate Felipe Calderon's advantage to 240,000 votes, but Lopez Obrador says that electoral fraud and dirty tactics by Fox robbed him of victory. The Federal Electoral Court has until Wednesday to declare a president-elect or annul the election.

The court's rulings so far have favored Calderon, and Lopez Obrador and his supporters have already said they won't recognize its decision.

"Fox is going to go to Congress and tell the country that there aren't any problems, when the entire city center is being occupied! That just seems like a joke to us," said Guillermo Monroy, a 40-year-old lawyer at a protest camp.

Spokesman Ruben Aguilar said Fox's speech will focus on promoting the government institutions created to handle things like electoral disputes, and tout economic growth and a building boom.

"I'm leaving satisfied," Fox said.

[Last modified September 1, 2006, 01:46:45]