Mexican lawmakers take stage at Congress

MEXICO CITY - Dozens of opposition lawmakers took control of the stage at the Mexican Congress Friday minutes before President Vicente Fox was scheduled to deliver his last state-of-the-nation address.

The lawmakers held placards calling the Mexican leader a traitor to democracy and refused to leave until authorities removed police barricades that had been set up in advance of Fox's annual speech.

The lawmakers ignored demands that they return to their seats, shouting "Vote by Vote" — a rallying cry for leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's bid for a full recount in the July 2 election.

Thousands of Lopez Obrador's supporters have been camped out for weeks in Mexico City and had vowed to march on congress to prevent Fox from speaking.

Earlier, riot police, attack dogs and towering steel barriers were used to seal off the Congress for several miles in every direction.

Many feared the deepening political turmoil over the July 2 election to replace Fox could explode into violence, but leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called on his supporters to peacefully gather in Mexico City's Zocalo plaza, instead of marching on Congress.

"We aren't going to fall into any trap," he told tens of thousands who waited in a driving rain to hear him speak.

Fox's office said hours before the speech that the president was planning to arrive in a motorcade. But it was unclear whether he would reach the podium. He may just drop off his written, annual report, then go home.

The tense situation was a far cry from the optimism and enthusiasm that followed Fox's victory six years ago. That election ended 71 years of one-party rule and prompted the world to declare Mexico a true democracy.

But on Friday, exactly three months before Fox steps down, protesters occupying Mexico City's center said they were ready to do whatever it takes to support Lopez Obrador. Fernando Calles, a 26-year-old university professor, said he was ready to fight for Lopez Obrador "until the death, until the final consequences."

"We lived 500 years of repression, and now we represent the new face of Mexico," he said.

Fearing violent protests, authorities surrounded Congress for up to 10 blocks with multiple layers of steel barriers; attack dogs in cages, ready to be released; water cannons; and riot police in full protective gear. Entire neighborhoods were sealed off, preventing some of the city's sprawling markets from opening, and nearby subway stations were shut down.

Police used mirrors and dogs to inspect cars for explosives before allowing them to pass, and opposition lawmakers said police even tried to prevent them from arriving despite their credentials. Some said they were pushed and shoved by authorities.

"It's completely militarized around here. It is completely illegal, unconstitutional," Democratic Revolution congressman Cuauhtemoc Sandoval told The Associated Press. "Vicente Fox started out as a president, and is finishing up as a dictator."

Inside Congress, opposition lawmakers said they will do everything they can to stop the president from giving his annual address. The chamber was void of guards, but legislators can request police to enter if necessary.

Sen. Carlos Navarrete, the Senate spokesman for Lopez Obrador's Democratic Revolution Party, said legislators will act with "energy" but also with "prudence." He said lawmakers wouldn't try to attack Fox.

The tight election left the nation deeply divided, with Lopez Obrador — who portrayed himself as a champion of the poor — alleging that fraud accounted for an official count showing him 0.6 percent behind the ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon.

Fox, a former Coca-Cola executive, ushered in economic stability and brought inflation to record lows, but he has been unable to secure a migration accord with the U.S. or significantly reduce poverty.

The standoff comes six days before the top electoral court must declare a president-elect or annul the July 2 vote and order a new election. So far, rulings have favored Calderon. Lopez Obrador has already said he won't recognize the court's decision.

article Update, title change as well..

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MEXICO CITY - President Vicente Fox turned in a written copy of his annual state-of-the nation report Friday, but refused to address a Congress occupied by leftist lawmakers who demanded he withdraw heavy security surrounding the building. It was the first time in history a Mexican president hasn't given the annual address.

Fox's office said he would address the nation in a televised speech later Friday. The written copy of his address called on Mexico to mend deep divisions that he said threatened the country's newfound democracy.

"Whoever attacks our laws and institutions also attacks our history and Mexico," he said, a veiled reference to leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. "No one can say that he supports the people when he attacks it."

The opposition lawmakers waved Mexican flags and held placards calling the Mexican leader a traitor to democracy. They ignored demands that they return to their seats, shouting "Vote by Vote" — a rallying cry for Lopez Obrador's bid for a full recount in the July 2 election.

Earlier, riot police, attack dogs and towering steel barriers were used to seal off the Congress for several miles in every direction.

Many feared the deepening political turmoil over the July 2 election to replace Fox could explode into violence, but leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called on his supporters to peacefully gather in Mexico City's Zocalo plaza, instead of marching on Congress.

"We aren't going to fall into any trap," he told tens of thousands who waited in a driving rain to hear him speak.

Fox's office said hours before the speech that the president was planning to arrive in a motorcade. But it was unclear whether he would reach the podium. He may just drop off his written, annual report, then go home.

The tense situation was a far cry from the optimism and enthusiasm that followed Fox's victory six years ago. That election ended 71 years of one-party rule and prompted the world to declare Mexico a true democracy.

But on Friday, exactly three months before Fox steps down, protesters occupying Mexico City's center said they were ready to do whatever it takes to support Lopez Obrador. Fernando Calles, a 26-year-old university professor, said he was ready to fight for Lopez Obrador "until the death, until the final consequences."

"We lived 500 years of repression, and now we represent the new face of Mexico," he said.

Fearing violent protests, authorities surrounded Congress for up to 10 blocks with multiple layers of steel barriers; attack dogs in cages, ready to be released; water cannons; and riot police in full protective gear. Entire neighborhoods were sealed off, preventing some of the city's sprawling markets from opening, and nearby subway stations were shut down.

Police used mirrors and dogs to inspect cars for explosives before allowing them to pass, and opposition lawmakers said police even tried to prevent them from arriving despite their credentials. Some said they were pushed and shoved by authorities.

"It's completely militarized around here. It is completely illegal, unconstitutional," Democratic Revolution congressman Cuauhtemoc Sandoval told The Associated Press. "Vicente Fox started out as a president, and is finishing up as a dictator."

Inside Congress, opposition lawmakers said they will do everything they can to stop the president from giving his annual address. The chamber was void of guards, but legislators can request police to enter if necessary.

Sen. Carlos Navarrete, the Senate spokesman for Lopez Obrador's Democratic Revolution Party, said legislators will act with "energy" but also with "prudence." He said lawmakers wouldn't try to attack Fox.

"We are not vandals, we are representatives," Navarrete said.

The tight election left the nation deeply divided, with Lopez Obrador — who portrayed himself as a champion of the poor — alleging that fraud accounted for an official count showing him 0.6 percent behind the ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon.

Fox, a former Coca-Cola executive, ushered in economic stability and brought inflation to record lows, but he has been unable to secure a migration accord with the U.S. or significantly reduce poverty.

The standoff comes six days before the top electoral court must declare a president-elect or annul the July 2 vote and order a new election. So far, rulings have favored Calderon. Lopez Obrador has already said he won't recognize the court's decision.

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On the Net:

http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/en/

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