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| Mexico votes in mid-term elections marked by violence | Mexico votes in mid-term elections marked by violence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Mexicans are voting in mid-term elections which are being seen as a test for President Enrique Pena Nieto. | |
| Eighty million people are eligible to select the lower house of congress, hundreds of mayors and nine governors. | Eighty million people are eligible to select the lower house of congress, hundreds of mayors and nine governors. |
| The run-up to the poll has been marked by violence with drug cartels blamed for the deaths of several candidates. | The run-up to the poll has been marked by violence with drug cartels blamed for the deaths of several candidates. |
| On Sunday morning, protesters and parents of 43 students who disappeared last year burned election material in the town of Tixtla. | On Sunday morning, protesters and parents of 43 students who disappeared last year burned election material in the town of Tixtla. |
| They say they want answers about what happened to the students before elections are held. | They say they want answers about what happened to the students before elections are held. |
| A dissident teachers' union has also burned ballots and ransacked offices of political parties to express its anger at education reforms. | A dissident teachers' union has also burned ballots and ransacked offices of political parties to express its anger at education reforms. |
| Analysis by Katy Watson, BBC News, Mexico City | Analysis by Katy Watson, BBC News, Mexico City |
| Ahead of the elections, there was a great deal of pessimism - the feeling among many that votes do not really matter, politicians here are all the same, and violence will continue no matter what. | Ahead of the elections, there was a great deal of pessimism - the feeling among many that votes do not really matter, politicians here are all the same, and violence will continue no matter what. |
| But at a polling stations on Sunday, in relatively peaceful Mexico City, there was a sense of duty among many - that voting was the only way to make a difference. Asked what their main concern was and almost without exception, the response among voters was: 'Security.' People here are worried about where the country is heading. | But at a polling stations on Sunday, in relatively peaceful Mexico City, there was a sense of duty among many - that voting was the only way to make a difference. Asked what their main concern was and almost without exception, the response among voters was: 'Security.' People here are worried about where the country is heading. |
| Despite President Pena Nieto's promises to restore peace in Mexico, these elections have proved otherwise. They have been some of the most violent in recent history. | Despite President Pena Nieto's promises to restore peace in Mexico, these elections have proved otherwise. They have been some of the most violent in recent history. |
| President Pena Nieto has deployed federal police and troops to guard polling stations. | President Pena Nieto has deployed federal police and troops to guard polling stations. |
| His spokesman Eduard Sanchez said on Saturday: "Mexicans have the right to vote in peace... [we] will take all necessary measures within the framework of legality'' to protect the elections. | His spokesman Eduard Sanchez said on Saturday: "Mexicans have the right to vote in peace... [we] will take all necessary measures within the framework of legality'' to protect the elections. |
| Opinion polls show Mr Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party and its allies are expected to retain a small majority in Congress. | Opinion polls show Mr Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party and its allies are expected to retain a small majority in Congress. |
| Ahead of the polls opening, the CNTE teachers' union attacked the offices of five political parties in Chiapas state in the south of the country. | Ahead of the polls opening, the CNTE teachers' union attacked the offices of five political parties in Chiapas state in the south of the country. |
| In Guerrero state, explosive devices were thrown into a conservative party's office. | In Guerrero state, explosive devices were thrown into a conservative party's office. |
| Meanwhile in Oaxaca, as well as Guerrero, tens of thousands of ballot papers were burnt by protesters. | Meanwhile in Oaxaca, as well as Guerrero, tens of thousands of ballot papers were burnt by protesters. |
| The three states, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero are expected to be the focus of unrest on Sunday. | The three states, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero are expected to be the focus of unrest on Sunday. |
| A number of candidates and numerous campaign workers have also been killed in drug-related violence. | A number of candidates and numerous campaign workers have also been killed in drug-related violence. |
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