This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/5353074.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Mass rally for Mexico poll rival Mexican political crisis deepens
(30 minutes later)
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have gathered in Mexico City for the climax of seven weeks of protests against the presidential election result. A mass rally of supporters of defeated Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has "elected" him head of a parallel government.
Supporters of defeated candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador were expected to name him head of a parallel government. Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo for the show of hands.
The rally came after outgoing President Vicente Fox moved Independence Day celebrations out of the capital amid security fears. Mr Lopez Obrador and his supporters have said his defeat by less than 1% of the vote was fraudulent.
Last week the highest electoral court threw out claims of fraud. However, the highest electoral court has backed the result, giving power to conservative candidate Felipe Calderon.
It declared conservative candidate Felipe Calderon the winner. 'Legitimate president'
'Vote by vote' The demonstrators had flocked to the square after an earlier military parade to mark Independence Day that was overseen by outgoing President Vicente Fox.
For seven weeks Mr Lopez Obrador and his supporters have protested against the result.
It is going to be very rough for Calderon Lidia Alvarado, Lopez Obrador supporter Crisis reflects Mexico colourIt is going to be very rough for Calderon Lidia Alvarado, Lopez Obrador supporter Crisis reflects Mexico colour
They set up a tent city in the capital and only agreed to dismantle it for the Independence Day military parade. Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters had been told to come for a National Democratic Convention.
President Fox reviewed thousands of military personnel in the city's main square, the Zocalo, on Saturday. They voted to swear him in as the "legitimate president" on 20 November, 11 days before Mr Calderon is officially inaugurated.
On Friday he gave "el grito" - the independence cry of "Viva Mexico!" - from the town of Dolores Hidalgo, 270km (170 miles) north of Mexico City, where in 1810 national hero Miguel Hidalgo established the movement for independence from Spain. The campaign hopes to spend the next six years opposing the rule of Mr Calderon.
A government spokesman said the event was moved from Mexico City because of fears of radical groups planning violence. Some commentators say the "election" of a parallel administration will help reduce the possibility of radical street demonstrations.
During Saturday's military parade, small groups of Lopez Obrador supporters held up signs reading "Fox, crook" and "Vote by vote". The rally was the climax of seven weeks of protests
The Lopez Obrador campaign has been based on a call for a full recount of a vote its candidate lost by less than 1%.
Others at the parade cheered Mr Fox and president-elect Mr Calderon, who is from the president's party.
Crossroads
As the parade concluded tens of thousands of Lopez Obrador supporters headed for the Zocalo for their National Democratic Convention.
One supporter, Lidia Alvarado, said: "It is going to be very rough for Calderon. Wherever he goes, we'll be there to remind him he became president through fraud."One supporter, Lidia Alvarado, said: "It is going to be very rough for Calderon. Wherever he goes, we'll be there to remind him he became president through fraud."
The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Zocalo says the massive square is filling and that could allow Mr Lopez Obrador to claim a symbolic success after suggestions that support for his peaceful uprising was beginning to wane. The protesters had occupied the Zocalo since the election seven weeks ago but agreed to disband the tent city for good ahead of Saturday's military parade.
Mr Lopez Obrador's campaign must decide whether to continue with the street protests or set up a symbolic alternative government with him at the head. President Fox reviewed thousands of military personnel in the Zocalo at the parade.
But small groups of Lopez Obrador supporters held up signs reading "Fox, crook" and "Vote by vote".
Their campaign has been based on a call for a full recount of the vote.
Others at the parade cheered Mr Fox and president-elect Mr Calderon, who is from the president's party.
On Friday Mr Fox moved Independence Day celebrations out of the capital amid security fears.
He gave "el grito" - the independence cry of "Viva Mexico!" - from the town of Dolores Hidalgo, 270km (170 miles) north of Mexico City, where in 1810 national hero Miguel Hidalgo established the movement for independence from Spain.
A government spokesman said the event was moved from Mexico City because of fears of radical groups planning violence.