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| Mexican political crisis deepens | Mexican political crisis deepens |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A mass rally of supporters of defeated Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has "elected" him head of a parallel government. | A mass rally of supporters of defeated Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has "elected" him head of a parallel government. |
| Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, for the show of hands. | Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, for the show of hands. |
| Mr Lopez Obrador and his supporters have said his defeat by less than 1% of the vote was fraudulent. | Mr Lopez Obrador and his supporters have said his defeat by less than 1% of the vote was fraudulent. |
| However, the highest electoral court has backed the result, giving power to conservative candidate Felipe Calderon. | However, the highest electoral court has backed the result, giving power to conservative candidate Felipe Calderon. |
| 'Legitimate president' | 'Legitimate president' |
| The demonstrators had flocked to the square after an earlier military parade to mark Independence Day that was overseen by outgoing President Vicente Fox. | The demonstrators had flocked to the square after an earlier military parade to mark Independence Day that was overseen by outgoing President Vicente Fox. |
| It is going to be very rough for Calderon Lidia Alvarado, Lopez Obrador supporter Crisis reflects Mexico colour Send us your comments href="/1/hi/in_pictures/5353432.stm" class="">In pictures: Mexico rally | |
| Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters had been told to come for a National Democratic Convention. | Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters had been told to come for a National Democratic Convention. |
| They voted to swear him in as the "legitimate president" on 20 November, 11 days before Mr Calderon is officially inaugurated. | They voted to swear him in as the "legitimate president" on 20 November, 11 days before Mr Calderon is officially inaugurated. |
| The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Mexico City says the event is largely symbolic but will prove a psychological boost to Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters who believe he was cheated. | The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Mexico City says the event is largely symbolic but will prove a psychological boost to Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters who believe he was cheated. |
| The campaign hopes to spend the next six years opposing the rule of Mr Calderon. | The campaign hopes to spend the next six years opposing the rule of Mr Calderon. |
| Some commentators say the "election" of a parallel administration will help reduce the possibility of radical street demonstrations. | Some commentators say the "election" of a parallel administration will help reduce the possibility of radical street demonstrations. |
| The rally was the climax of seven weeks of protests | The rally was the climax of seven weeks of protests |
| One supporter, Lidia Alvarado, said: "It is going to be very rough for Calderon. Wherever he goes, we'll be there to remind him he became president through fraud." | One supporter, Lidia Alvarado, said: "It is going to be very rough for Calderon. Wherever he goes, we'll be there to remind him he became president through fraud." |
| The protesters had occupied the Zocalo since the election seven weeks ago but agreed to disband the tent city for good ahead of Saturday's military parade. | The protesters had occupied the Zocalo since the election seven weeks ago but agreed to disband the tent city for good ahead of Saturday's military parade. |
| President Fox reviewed thousands of military personnel in the Zocalo at the parade. | President Fox reviewed thousands of military personnel in the Zocalo at the parade. |
| But small groups of Lopez Obrador supporters held up signs reading "Fox, crook" and "Vote by vote". | But small groups of Lopez Obrador supporters held up signs reading "Fox, crook" and "Vote by vote". |
| Their campaign has been based on a call for a full recount of the vote. | Their campaign has been based on a call for a full recount of the vote. |
| Others at the parade cheered Mr Fox and president-elect Mr Calderon, who is from the president's party. | Others at the parade cheered Mr Fox and president-elect Mr Calderon, who is from the president's party. |
| On Friday Mr Fox moved Independence Day celebrations out of the capital amid security fears. | On Friday Mr Fox moved Independence Day celebrations out of the capital amid security fears. |
| He gave "el grito" - the independence cry of "Viva Mexico!" - from the town of Dolores Hidalgo, 270km (170 miles) north of Mexico City, where in 1810 national hero Miguel Hidalgo established the movement for independence from Spain. | He gave "el grito" - the independence cry of "Viva Mexico!" - from the town of Dolores Hidalgo, 270km (170 miles) north of Mexico City, where in 1810 national hero Miguel Hidalgo established the movement for independence from Spain. |
| A government spokesman said the event was moved from Mexico City because of fears of radical groups planning violence. | A government spokesman said the event was moved from Mexico City because of fears of radical groups planning violence. |