MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mexican president blocked from addressing Congress

Mexican president Vicente Fox was prevented Friday from making his final state of the nation speech before Congress when over a hundred left wing legislators occupied the podium. This is the first time in the history of Mexico that a president is forced to cancel the ceremony.

The protesting legislators are supporters of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador the populist presidential candidate who alleges massive fraud in July 2 elections. Thousands of supporters also protested outside Congress which was surrounded by hundreds of riot police.

"I've come to the Congress of the Union and I am formally delivering the report?Given the attitude of a group of legislators, I'm leaving this Honourable building", said Fox after handing the state of the Union to the presidency of Congress.

Twenty minutes before the arrival of President Fox, over a hundred members of Congress belonging to the Party of the Democratic Revolution, PRD, seized the stage to protest the July 2 presidential election results which they claim were manipulated to help Conservative Felipe Calderon from the ruling Party of Nacional Action, PAN, defeat Lopez Obrador by a 0.54% margin.

The joint Congressional session, Senate and Lower House, was the shortest in Mexican history, since state of the union speeches usually last up to three hours.

Congress was cordoned off with steel barricades and riot police appeared with armor, helmets and supported with water cannons and attack dogs.

Lopez Obrador the former Mayor of Mexico City has led a month long campaign of street demonstrations and "civil resistance" demanding a recount of votes. But this week the Federal Electoral Tribunal denied the option arguing that "some errors" were committed influencing votes for both candidates, but insufficient to affect the overall result.

The Tribunal has until September 6 to declare a president elect or call fresh elections. Although Mr. Lopez Obrador all along has urged followers to act peacefully and avoid the risk of confrontation, analysts believe he could be loosing his grip over the protestors.