Mexico full poll recount rejected

"If there is no solution, there will be a revolution." - Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

Mexico's electoral body has rejected a request by left-wing candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for a full recount of votes from July's disputed election.

Instead, the electoral tribunal's seven judges ordered a partial recount.

Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters have repeatedly said a ballot-by-ballot recount is the only way to restore faith in Mexico's electoral system.

The 2 July vote gave victory to the conservative candidate, Felipe Calderon, by less than 1%.

The electoral tribunal ordered the recount of votes at 11,839 of the country's almost 130,500 polling stations.

In Mexico City's central Zocalo square, thousands of Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters chanted "Vote-by-vote!" as they watched the tribunal's session on a huge screen.

Protesters blocked the entrance to the tribunal, after the decision was announced.

"If there is no solution, there'll be revolution," they shouted.

Representatives of Mr Lopez Obrador walked out of the tribunal's session in protest.

Mr Lopez Obrador has challenged the election result, saying the vote was rigged.

He has said he will not accept a partial recount, raising fears of prolonged public unrest.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Mexico have been holding rallies to support Mr Obrador.

Mr Calderon says his victory was irreversible, and his conservative National Action Party has described Mr Lopez Obrador's claims as "schizophrenic".

The dispute has paralysed Mexican politics, correspondents say.

A president-elect must be declared by 6 September to replace Vicente Fox on 1 December.