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Calderon declared Mexico winner Calderon declared Mexico winner
(39 minutes later)
Mexico's top electoral court has declared Felipe Calderon president-elect after ruling on the validity of the 2 July election.Mexico's top electoral court has declared Felipe Calderon president-elect after ruling on the validity of the 2 July election.
The Federal Electoral Tribunal rejected claims by the losing candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, that the election campaign had been unfair.The Federal Electoral Tribunal rejected claims by the losing candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, that the election campaign had been unfair.
A final count gave Mr Calderon victory by 233,831 votes out of 41.6m cast.A final count gave Mr Calderon victory by 233,831 votes out of 41.6m cast.
Mr Lopez Obrador, whose supporters have been protesting for weeks, has hinted he might form a parallel government.Mr Lopez Obrador, whose supporters have been protesting for weeks, has hinted he might form a parallel government.
Tuesday's ruling came after weeks of legal wrangling over the closest presidential election in Mexican history.Tuesday's ruling came after weeks of legal wrangling over the closest presidential election in Mexican history.
The judges, who began their session at 1300 GMT, first heard a report on the final vote count, which cut back Mr Calderon's advantage by some 10,000 votes to 233,831.The judges, who began their session at 1300 GMT, first heard a report on the final vote count, which cut back Mr Calderon's advantage by some 10,000 votes to 233,831.
Then, one-by-one, they all voted in favour of a recommendation to declare Mr Calderon, candidate of the governing National Action Party (PAN), president-elect and reject allegations by Mr Lopez Obrador that the campaign had been unfair.Then, one-by-one, they all voted in favour of a recommendation to declare Mr Calderon, candidate of the governing National Action Party (PAN), president-elect and reject allegations by Mr Lopez Obrador that the campaign had been unfair.
FireworksFireworks
Giving her opinion, Judge Alfonsina Berta Navarro said the court had found evidence of problems but not enough to annul the election.Giving her opinion, Judge Alfonsina Berta Navarro said the court had found evidence of problems but not enough to annul the election.
Lopez Obrador supporters were hoping for a reversal of the resultLopez Obrador supporters were hoping for a reversal of the result
"There are no perfect elections," she said."There are no perfect elections," she said.
The judges criticised political advertising during the campaign and the conduct of outgoing President Vicente Fox, but said this was not enough to declare the poll void.The judges criticised political advertising during the campaign and the conduct of outgoing President Vicente Fox, but said this was not enough to declare the poll void.
The judges' decision had been widely expected after they threw out Mr Lopez Obrador's claims the election had been riddled with fraud last week.The judges' decision had been widely expected after they threw out Mr Lopez Obrador's claims the election had been riddled with fraud last week.
Outside the court in Mexico City, Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters wept and set off fireworks that could be heard inside as the judges announced their decision.Outside the court in Mexico City, Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters wept and set off fireworks that could be heard inside as the judges announced their decision.
"This has been fraudulent from start to finish," Claudio Martinez told the Associated Press news agency."This has been fraudulent from start to finish," Claudio Martinez told the Associated Press news agency.
The next president is due to take office on 1 December for a single six-year term. HAVE YOUR SAY Mr Lopez Obrador is willing to divide the country into chaos - which Mexico does not need - for the sake of his own bruised ego Tracey Roth, Connecticut, USA href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3652&edition=2&ttl=20060905190806" class="">Send us your comments The next president is due to take office on 1 December for a single six-year term.
The court's president, Leonel Castillo urged Mexicans to unite and heal the deep divisions exposed by the election and its aftermath.The court's president, Leonel Castillo urged Mexicans to unite and heal the deep divisions exposed by the election and its aftermath.
"I hope we conclude this electoral process leaving confrontation behind," he said."I hope we conclude this electoral process leaving confrontation behind," he said.
But that is unlikely in the bitter political climate, correspondents say.But that is unlikely in the bitter political climate, correspondents say.
'National convention''National convention'
As the day of the ruling approached, protests in favour of Mr Lopez Obrador escalated.As the day of the ruling approached, protests in favour of Mr Lopez Obrador escalated.
Weeks of waiting for both candidates have now endedWeeks of waiting for both candidates have now ended
Last Friday, there were chaotic scenes in the Congress when dozens of his party's deputies took over the podium and prevented President Fox from making his state-of-the-nation speech.Last Friday, there were chaotic scenes in the Congress when dozens of his party's deputies took over the podium and prevented President Fox from making his state-of-the-nation speech.
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" on 16 September - Mexico's Independence Day.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" on 16 September - Mexico's Independence Day.
He has already hinted at establishing a parallel government.He has already hinted at establishing a parallel government.
For his part, Mr Calderon has spoken of the need to bring Mexicans together.For his part, 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".