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| Mexico winner makes unity appeal | Mexico winner makes unity appeal |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Governing party candidate Felipe Calderon has called for unity with his defeated rival, after being formally declared Mexico's president-elect. | Governing party candidate Felipe Calderon has called for unity with his defeated rival, after being formally declared Mexico's president-elect. |
| He said the country had to be united to defeat its real enemies - poverty, crime and unemployment. | He said the country had to be united to defeat its real enemies - poverty, crime and unemployment. |
| But his opponent Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who lost by less than 1%, alleged widespread fraud, and still refuses to accept defeat. | But his opponent Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who lost by less than 1%, alleged widespread fraud, and still refuses to accept defeat. |
| Mr Calderon will take office on 1 December for a single six-year term. | Mr Calderon will take office on 1 December for a single six-year term. |
| "I want to again express my recognition of my adversaries," said Mr Calderon in a televised address on Tuesday evening. | "I want to again express my recognition of my adversaries," said Mr Calderon in a televised address on Tuesday evening. |
| "Their proposals, the most worthwhile ones, which are the most legitimate and representative, will be incorporated into my government programme. | "Their proposals, the most worthwhile ones, which are the most legitimate and representative, will be incorporated into my government programme. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY With this decision, justice has prevailed. Thank God it has ended! Araceli, Jalisco, Mexico Send us your comments href="/1/hi/talking_point/5319678.stm" class="">Mexican readers' reaction href="/1/hi/world/americas/5318434.stm" class="">Profile: Felipe Calderon | |
| "From my side, there will always be an extended hand and an open door to dialogue." | "From my side, there will always be an extended hand and an open door to dialogue." |
| But Mr Lopez Obrador, whose supporters have held repeated demonstrations since the July election, said he did not accept the top electoral court's ruling. | But Mr Lopez Obrador, whose supporters have held repeated demonstrations since the July election, said he did not accept the top electoral court's ruling. |
| "I do not recognize someone who tries to act as the chief federal executive without having a legitimate and democratic representation," he told supporters in Mexico City's main square, the zocalo. | "I do not recognize someone who tries to act as the chief federal executive without having a legitimate and democratic representation," he told supporters in Mexico City's main square, the zocalo. |
| The court decision came after weeks of legal wrangling over the closest presidential election in Mexican history. | The court decision came after weeks of legal wrangling over the closest presidential election in Mexican history. |
| The judges 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. | The judges 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. |
| The final vote count gave Mr Calderon victory by 233,831 votes out of a total of some 41.6m cast. | The final vote count gave Mr Calderon victory by 233,831 votes out of a total of some 41.6m cast. |
| Fireworks | Fireworks |
| 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. |
| Lopez Obrador still insists that he won the poll | Lopez Obrador still insists that he won the poll |
| 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 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. |
| Dialogue | Dialogue |
| 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. |
| The electoral court's ruling is final | The electoral court's ruling is final |
| 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 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 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. |
| The United States has congratulated Mr Calderon on his victory. | The United States has congratulated Mr Calderon on his victory. |
| "We expect our relationship with Mexico to continue to be broad, deep, and productive for both our countries under the administration of President-elect Calderon," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. | "We expect our relationship with Mexico to continue to be broad, deep, and productive for both our countries under the administration of President-elect Calderon," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. |