Mexico leftist vows protests after recount setback

MEXICO CITY, Aug 6 (Reuters) Mexico's leftist leader angrily vowed to push ahead with street protests that have paralyzed the capital after a top court rejected his demand for a full recount in a presidential vote he says was stolen from him.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says the July 2 election was plagued by fraud and wants all 41 million votes counted again, but the court's seven judges unanimously ruled against him and instead ordered recounts at just 9 percent of voting stations.

He criticized them in a speech to thousands of supporters and pledged to persist with demonstrations that have caused chaos in Mexico City, one of the world's biggest cities.

''We're telling you straight: we're going to continue our movement of peaceful civil resistance,'' he told his followers in the capital's vast Zocalo square.

''If they refuse to open all the polling stations and count all the votes, it is complete proof that we won the presidential election,'' he said.

''You are not alone!'', thousands of supporters screamed in support. ''Not one step back!'' Conservative ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon won the election by a razor-thin victory, but Lopez Obrador says there were irregularities at more than half the 130,500 polling stations.

The fiery anti-poverty campaigner and former mayor of Mexico City had repeatedly said he would not accept a partial recount, raising fears of massive street protests aimed at preventing Calderon from taking power in December.

His supporters have occupied the Zocalo and set up camp along the middle of the main boulevard running through Mexico City's business district since last Sunday, causing traffic chaos across swathes of the capital.

TIGHT SECURITY Fearing further unrest, the federal government has raised security at Mexico City's international airport, power plants and oil refineries.

The electoral court's decision ruled out opening every single ballot box in the country but left the door open for more partial recounts. Still, leftist protesters were furious.

''Without a solution, there'll be revolution,'' they yelled outside the court building. They then left four fake coffins with the message: ''Democracy, R.I.P.'' ''They are closing the path to democracy and the only thing left to us will be violence because we are not going to back down,'' said Pilar Saavedra, a university office worker.

The recounts at 11,839 polling stations, largely in northern states won resoundingly by Calderon, will begin next Wednesday and should be completed by today.

If they show the leftist with more votes than the original count, it will increase pressure to reopen more ballot boxes.

But if the results are unchanged, Lopez Obrador will come under intense pressure to halt his protest campaign.

Calderon won the election by less than 0.6 percentage point, but he insists his victory was clean. His pro-business National Action Party backed the court's decision yesterday.

''We hope this ruling helps clear up doubts and concerns about the cleanliness and transparency of the election,'' said German Martinez, a senior Calderon aide.

International observers said the election was fair and most Mexicans agree, but about 35 percent believe it was rigged and about half favor a full recount, opinion polls show.

The bitter dispute has polarized Mexico just six years after the election of President Vicente Fox broke 71 years of authoritarian and corrupt single-party rule.

The court's judges have a reputation for independence and expertise among legal experts. They must rule on all challenges by the end of August and declare a president-elect by September 6.

REUTERS DH KP0722