Lopez Obrador Says Protesters Won’t Disrupt Military Parade
Mexican leftists will relax their protest in Mexico City against President-elect Felipe Calderon to allow a military parade to pass, their leader said Sunday.
The move is seen as a bid to avert street violence during the annual Independence Day parade through the capital’s central square, or Zocalo, on Saturday.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who says he was robbed of victory in the July 2 presidential election, told supporters to suspend an ongoing sit-in to make way for the event.
The protesters still could disrupt President Vicente Fox’s traditional independence cry, or grito, on Friday evening.
Independence Day was seen as a possible focus of clashes between leftists and troops, but Lopez Obrador backed off, telling supporters to “step aside” to let the parade pass.
“We don’t have a problem with the military institution, with the Mexican army,” he told a rally.
“We must be very aware that most of the troops belong to the people.”
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