Mexican leftists form "legitimate government," hope there won't be need to shoot anyone

AP reported today that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the popular former mayor of Mexico City, plans to form a parallel government claiming the election court did not take seriously his claims of fraud in the recent Mexican presidential election.

Obrador's supporters are calling their's the "legitimate government", as opposed to the "official government" presumed to be headed by by Felipe Calderon. Felipe Calderon, apparently elected president of Mexico in a close and hotly contested election June 2, 2006, is expected to be delared the winner of that election but an official announcement has not yet been made.

Obrador's supporters are comparing his parallel goverment to that of 18th century President Benito Juarez, who led the resistance to French-installed Emperor Maximilian. Juarez eventually prevailed and Maximilian was executed.

"We just hope there won't be any need to shoot anyone," said Rosario Ibarra, a human rights activist who frequently shares the stage with Lopez Obrador at his rallies.