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Fracas mars Mexico inauguration Fracas mars Mexico inauguration
(about 7 hours later)
Felipe Calderon has been sworn in as Mexico's president to jeers, after brawls in Congress between lawmakers, divided by the nation's tight election.Felipe Calderon has been sworn in as Mexico's president to jeers, after brawls in Congress between lawmakers, divided by the nation's tight election.
Just an hour before the ceremony, deputies seized the speaker's platform and blocked the doors of the chamber.Just an hour before the ceremony, deputies seized the speaker's platform and blocked the doors of the chamber.
Members of the left-wing Democratic Revolution Party say Mr Calderon, a conservative, won July's poll by fraud.Members of the left-wing Democratic Revolution Party say Mr Calderon, a conservative, won July's poll by fraud.
The row followed an unusual midnight ceremony in which the outgoing president handed power to Mr Calderon.The row followed an unusual midnight ceremony in which the outgoing president handed power to Mr Calderon.
In the closed-door ceremony, Vicente Fox handed over power to Mr Calderon, who described the event as the start of the process of taking possession of the presidency. Opposition deputies argued Mr Calderon could not become president without taking the oath of office - as outlined in the constitution - and tried to derail Friday's official inauguration.
The situation here at Congress isn't worrisome - these things happen all over the world Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos Mr Calderon bypassed the barricaded doors and, surrounded by his supporters and flanked by outgoing President Vicente Fox, he rushed through the presidential oath.
However, opposition deputies argued that Mr Calderon could not become president without taking the oath of office, as outlined in Mexico's constitution. The national anthem was then played over the din of insults made by dozens of opposing lawmakers, as the new president was ushered out of the chamber.
Surrounded by ruling party lawmakers and flanked by Mr Fox, the new president swore to uphold the constitution. "It's good action," said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who attended the ceremony along with former US President George Bush Sr and several sitting presidents.
The national anthem was played, and the new president was ushered out of the chamber, as ruling party deputies cheered: "He did it!"
Dignitaries who arrived amid the chaos included Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"The situation here at Congress isn't worrisome. These things happen all over the world," Mr Bolanos said.
Parallel governmentParallel government
Felipe Calderon says he will complete the swearing inThe Democratic Revolution Party - whose candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, lost the run-off by half a percentage point - has massed crowds of supporters in the capital. In the six months since the election, Mexico has witnessed a succession of protests against Mr Calderon over claims the poll was rigged - something he and the courts have rejected.
Mr Lopez Obrador, who claims he was robbed of the presidency, said he plans to march peacefully with his supporters to the national auditorium, where Mr Calderon is to address the nation. Mr Calderon may have several extremely difficult years ahead Opposition candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador lost the run-off by half a percentage point and last week launched a "parallel government" in a mock swearing-in ceremony.
Thousands of riot police have been deployed. BBC Americas Editor Will Grant says Mr Lopez Obrador appears intent on upsetting Mr Calderon's presidency at every turn.
Mr Lopez Obrador last week launched a "parallel government" in Mexico City and held an unofficial swearing-in ceremony. Mr Lopez Obrador has a strong support base, particularly in Mexico City where he was mayor for several years. His party remains in power there and he won a strong showing in the national Congress.
Mr Calderon has tried to focus on the social and economic challenges but, no matter how worthwhile his agenda, if the inauguration was anything to go by, he may be facing a difficult future, our correspondent says.