Thousands protest in support of Mexico City mayor as vote looms News
Thousands protest in support of Mexico City mayor as vote looms

[JURIST] Tens of thousands on Thursday protested in Mexico City in support of popular Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador [official profile in Spanish], who announced his presidential candidacy this morning, but could be barred from running by an expected congressional vote later today that would remove his legal immunity. Lopez Obrador faces contempt of court charges from a judicial order in 2001 to halt work on a road to a hospital that ran across a plot of disputed property. Supporters of Lopez Obrador argue that the congressional vote, which is expected to go against the mayor, has been pushed forward by President Vicente Fox to eliminate Lopez Obrador from the presidential race. Fox was elected in 2000 in the first truly democratic elections in Mexico [JURIST news archive], which had been ruled by one party for 71 years before that. Notimex has local coverage [in Spanish] from Mexico. Reuters has more.