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Calderon declared Mexico winner Calderon declared Mexico winner
(about 1 hour later)
Governing party candidate Felipe Calderon has been formally declared Mexico's president-elect after two months of political uncertainty.Governing party candidate Felipe Calderon has been formally declared Mexico's president-elect after two months of political uncertainty.
Seven judges at Mexico's top electoral court ruled unanimously that he had narrowly won the 2 July poll.Seven judges at Mexico's top electoral court ruled unanimously that he had narrowly won the 2 July poll.
They rejected allegations by the losing candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, that there had been widespread fraud.They rejected allegations by the losing candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, that there had been widespread fraud.
Mr Lopez Obrador, whose supporters have been protesting for weeks, has already vowed not to accept the ruling.Mr Lopez Obrador, whose supporters have been protesting for weeks, has already vowed not to accept the ruling.
Following the court's decision, Mr Calderon emerged from his party headquarters in Mexico City to wave at supporters.Following the court's decision, Mr Calderon emerged from his party headquarters in Mexico City to wave at supporters.
He is due to give a nationwide radio and television address later in the day.He is due to give a nationwide radio and television address later in the day.
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 Send us your comments 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 Send us your comments href="/1/hi/world/americas/5318434.stm" class="">Profile: Felipe Calderon
Tuesday's court decision came after weeks of legal wrangling over the closest presidential election in Mexican history.Tuesday's court decision came after weeks of legal wrangling over the closest presidential election in Mexican history.
During the four-hour session, the judges heard a report on the final vote count, which cut back Mr Calderon's advantage by some 10,000 votes to 233,831 out of a total of 41.6m ballots cast.During the four-hour session, the judges heard a report on the final vote count, which cut back Mr Calderon's advantage by some 10,000 votes to 233,831 out of a total of 41.6m ballots cast.
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, which is final and cannot be appealed against.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, which is final and cannot be appealed against.
"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.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.
DialogueDialogue
Last Friday, there were chaotic scenes in the Congress when dozens of opposition 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 opposition deputies took over the podium and prevented President Fox from making his state-of-the-nation speech.
Weeks of waiting for both candidates have now endedWeeks of waiting for both candidates have now ended
Since the election, Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters have been almost permanently camped out in the capital's main square.Since the election, Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters have been almost permanently camped out in the capital's main square.
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 already spoken of the need to bring Mexicans together.For his part, Mr Calderon has already spoken of the need to bring Mexicans together.
And on Tuesday, his campaign manager Josefina Vazquez Mota said the president-elect was ready for dialogue.And on Tuesday, his campaign manager Josefina Vazquez Mota said the president-elect was ready for dialogue.
Mr Calderon, she said, "will listen to the voices of all those who exercised their right to vote for a different option".Mr Calderon, she said, "will listen to the voices of all those who exercised their right to vote for a different option".
But Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters have rejected any ideas of dialogue.But Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters have rejected any ideas of dialogue.
"The only possibility for a dialogue with the right's candidate would be for (Mr Calderon) to refuse the gift of the presidency which he did not earn at the ballot box," said Gerardo Fernandez Norona, spokesman for Mr Lopez Obrador's Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD)."The only possibility for a dialogue with the right's candidate would be for (Mr Calderon) to refuse the gift of the presidency which he did not earn at the ballot box," said Gerardo Fernandez Norona, spokesman for Mr Lopez Obrador's Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD).