Mexican leftists protest in Wal-Mart stores, alleging election fraud

MEXICO CITY
Supporters of defeated presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador blocked cash registers and threw around merchandise at several Wal-Mart stores in Mexico City on Sunday, continuing to protest the July election despite calls for unity.

About 80 protesters read a message at the stores telling Wal-Mart to stay out of Mexican politics. They accused the retail giant of supporting conservative President-elect Felipe Calderon, which the store denies. The protesters also alleged the stores exploit workers.

"The pacifist civil resistance movement comes today to denounce this transnational that pays badly and doesn't respect human rights," protester Froylan Yescas said in a statement read to local media. "If that isn't enough, the stores also had an open campaign in favor of the right- wing candidate."

Wal-Mart de Mexico, the Mexican unit of Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is the country's biggest retailer with 818 retail stores and restaurants at the end of June. Calls to company on Sunday were not answered.

The protesters left the stores after about 20 minutes. There were no reports of arrests or injuries.

Calderon won the July 2 election, defeating over Lopez Obrador by less than 0.6 percent of the vote. The leftist claims the election was marred by fraud and has pledged to form a parallel government funded by donations.

On Saturday, about 30 Lopez Obrador supporters threw eggs at Calderon's car in the city of Torreon, 785 kilometers (490 miles) north of Mexico City.

Calderon has called for unity after the bitterly disputed election and promised to form a nonpartisan government.

On Sunday, he said he would give the leaders of all political parties a document outlining a plan to solve Mexico's many problems and welcomes their opinions on it.
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