Free Republic

MEXICO CITY - On its 200th birthday, Mexico wants its citizens -- and the world -- to forget its vicious drug war and have a day without massacres, beheadings or shootouts. Mexico wants its people to remember the country's epic history, music, whimsical folk art and continuing crusade for wider prosperity and democracy. All that was on display Wednesday with a $40 million fiesta that's been two years in the making.

MEXICO CITY, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Leftist protests forced Mexican President Vicente Fox to abandon plans to lead a traditional ceremony in the capital on Friday, the eve of independence day, the Interior Minister said. Fox, targeted by leftists angry at what they say was fraud at July's presidential election, will instead hold the highly-symbolic cry of independence in the central town of Dolores Hidalgo, minister Carlos Abascal told reporters on Thursday. The ceremony, known as "el grito", takes place every Sept. 15 in the central Zocalo square but leftists have vowed to demonstrate against conservative Fox in the plaza.