Calderon names his anti-poverty team

President-elect Felipe Calderon on Friday named several close allies from his conservative National Action Party to lead his administration’s anti-poverty efforts, which are considered crucial to winning the support of millions of poor Mexicans who voted for his opponent.

As Calderon announced the appointments, supporters of leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador protested outside the headquarters of the incoming government.

Lopez Obrador, who claims the July 2 presidential election was compromised by fraud, staged a ceremony this week in which he swore himself in as Mexico’s “legitimate” president.

Calderon won by less than a percentage point in a race that laid bare Mexico’s deep divide between rich and poor. He has sought to adopt some of Lopez Obrador’s proposals.

Calderon appointed Dr. Jose Angel Cordoba, a congressman, as health secretary. He asked the surgeon to set up a universal healthcare program, which Lopez Obrador had proposed.

Other appointments include:

* Beatriz Zavala, a congresswoman, as social development secretary.

* Alberto Cardenas, former environment secretary under departing President Vicente Fox, as agriculture secretary.

* Josefina Vazquez, who stepped down as Fox’s social development secretary to run Calderon’s campaign, as education secretary.

* Juan Rafael Elvira as environment secretary.