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Mexican court rules on election Mexico court rules on election
(about 1 hour later)
Mexico's top electoral court is delivering its ruling on July's bitterly disputed presidential poll. Mexico's top electoral court is considering a draft recommendation to declare Felipe Calderon president-elect as it rules on July's disputed poll.
The Federal Electoral Tribunal is widely expected to rule that the 2 July election was fair, and declare Felipe Calderon president-elect. The Federal Electoral Tribunal heard that the final count gave Mr Calderon a 233,831 lead over Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador out of 41.6m votes cast.
This follows weeks of protests by supporters of his rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who alleged fraud. The judges still have to decide whether the 2 July election was fair.
The session began with the presentation of the final count, giving Mr Calderon a 233,831-lead out of 41.6m votes cast. There have been weeks of protests by supporters of Mr Lopez Obrador who has alleged widespread electoral fraud.
The seven-strong panel must still vote on the result and rule on whether the election was valid or should be annulled. The judges, who began their session at 1300 GMT, are issuing their arguments on whether Mr Calderon, candidate of the governing National Action Party (PAN), should be declared president-elect.
The seven-strong panel must vote on the result and rule on whether the election was valid or should be annulled.
Last week, the judges threw out Mr Lopez Obrador's claims the election had been riddled with fraud.Last week, the judges threw out Mr Lopez Obrador's claims the election had been riddled with fraud.
They oversaw a partial recount that knocked just a few thousand votes from governing party candidate Mr Calderon's narrow lead over his leftists rival.They oversaw a partial recount that knocked just a few thousand votes from governing party candidate Mr Calderon's narrow lead over his leftists rival.
The next president is due to take office on 1 December.
Growing protestsGrowing protests
As the decision date approached, protests in favour of Mr Lopez Obrador escalated. As the day of the ruling approached, protests in favour of Mr Lopez Obrador escalated.
Last Friday, there were chaotic scenes in the Congress when dozens of his deputies took over the podium and prevented President Vicente Fox from making his state-of-the-nation speech.Last Friday, there were chaotic scenes in the Congress when dozens of his deputies took over the podium and prevented President Vicente Fox from making his state-of-the-nation speech.
Weeks of waiting for both candidates will end on TuesdayThousands of Mexicans turned out again on Sunday at a rally in Mexico City in which Mr Lopez Obrador declared he would go ahead and set up what he called a "national democratic convention" in two weeks' time. Weeks of waiting for both candidates will end on Tuesday
Thousands of Mexicans turned out again on Sunday at a rally in Mexico City in which Mr Lopez Obrador declared he would go ahead and set up what he called a "national democratic convention" in two weeks' time.
He has already hinted at establishing a parallel government.He has already hinted at establishing a parallel government.
Mr Calderon has spoken of the need to bring Mexicans together.Mr Calderon has spoken of the need to bring Mexicans together.
He said last week he remained cautious, but the judges' decision "satisfies me enormously".He said last week he remained cautious, but the judges' decision "satisfies me enormously".