Conservative edges ahead in tense Mexican poll

The suspense in a race that has exposed the deep class and economic divisions in Mexico may therefore not be formally resolved for several more days, sparking fears that political tensions could spill into the streets. Mr Calderon, the chosen heir to outgoing president Vicente Fox, and his leftist foe, the former mayor of Mexico City, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, were claiming themselves the winner.

A preliminary count with most precincts reporting showed Mr Calderon with 36.5 per cent of the votes against 34.5 per cent for Mr Obrador. With 30 million Mexicans at the polls, the two were thus divided by barely 300,000 votes. One electoral official told Reuters Mr Calderon's lead would remain intact.

All eyes were therefore on Mr Obrador, a populist with a firebrand persona, amid concern he might mount legal challenges and call his supporters to stage mass protests if the race is eventually called in favour of his rival.

More
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article1159273.ece