|
 MEXICO CITY (AP) - Felipe Calderon, protected by a scrum of sympathetic lawmakers, ignored catcalls and brawling lawmakers and rushed through the presidential oath of office in the congressional chamber Friday, a chaotic start to a term in which he pledged to heal a country divided by his narrow victory.
Later, in his first speech as Mexico's president at the National Auditorium, Calderon offered to negotiate with leftist lawmakers who tried to block his inauguration and asked for the opportunity to win over the tens of thousands of protesters outside. But he warned rivals they wouldn't be able to stall his government.
"I'm always ready to talk, but I won't wait for dialogue before going to work," the 44-year-old politician said. "The people are ready for action."
|