UPDATE 4-Claiming fraud, Mexico left names own 'president'

by Frank Jack Daniel
Sep 16
MEXICO CITY
Mexican leftists, who say the July 2 election was stolen, declared their candidate the "legitimate president" on Saturday, a symbolic move reducing the risk of street protests to make the country ungovernable.

Aides said Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who narrowly lost the election, would use mainly political means rather than widespread protests in leading opposition to conservative President-elect Felipe Calderon.

Tens of thousands of leftists meeting in the capital's vast downtown central square rejected a proposal to name Lopez Obrador head of a civil resistance campaign, which would have marked a more aggressive strategy to try to stop Calderon from ruling.

The election sharply divided Mexico along class lines, a rift made worse by Lopez Obrador's fraud accusations.

But fears of violence have eased in recent days as Lopez Obrador has apparently opted for an organized political movement to challenge Calderon rather than cause chaos on the streets.

Supporters voted to swear Lopez Obrador in at a ceremony on Nov. 20, just days before Calderon takes power on Dec. 1.

"We won the presidential election. I accept the post of president of Mexico because we reject an imposition," he told cheering followers.
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