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Mexico Celebrates Independence Bicentennial

   VOA News 16 September 2010
   Mexico's  President  Felipe  Calderon waves the national flag from the
   balcony  of National Palace during bicentennial celebrations in Mexico
   City's main Zocalo plaza. Mexico celebrates the 200th annivers

Photo: AP

   Mexico's  President  Felipe  Calderon waves the national flag from the
   balcony  of National Palace during bicentennial celebrations in Mexico
   City's main Zocalo plaza, 15 Sep 2010.

   Mexico  has begun elaborate celebrations marking the 200th anniversary
   of the start of its independence from Spain.
   On  Wednesday,  thousands of people gathered in Mexico City to watch a
   parade, fireworks and light show.
   Later  in  the evening, Mexican President Felipe Calderon was expected
   to  give  the  famous  cry of the call to arms, known as "El Grito" or
   "The Shout" in Mexico City.
   The  celebration  re-enacts  the  1810  call for independence by Roman
   Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo, which began Mexico's long struggle for
   independence from Spain.
   Security  for  the  celebrations  is  tight  because  of concerns over
   drug-related   violence.    Those   concerns   have   prompted   some
   municipalities  in  Mexico  to  call off celebrations because of fears
   that drug cartels might try to disrupt the events.
   More  than  28,000  people  have  been killed in drug-related violence
   since  President  Calderon  took  office  in  late  2006  and  began a
   crackdown on the cartels.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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