[JURIST] Two hundred Mexican judges on Wednesday began a partial recount of ballots cast in the disputed July 2 presidential elections [JURIST report] as supporters of leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador [campaign website, in Spanish; Wikipedia profile] continued to stage protests [JURIST report] in Mexico City. The Federal Electoral Tribunal [official website, in Spanish] on Saturday decided not to hold a full recount [JURIST report], opting instead to recount only nine percent of ballots.

Lopez Obrador has pledged to continue peaceful demonstrations [JURIST report] until the tribunal orders a recount of all 41 million votes cast. Protesters so far have blocked entrances to banks and other businesses, effectively shutting down the main central square in Mexico City, and the government has increased security at Mexico City international airport, power plants and oil refineries. Last week, the Mexican interior minister criticized Lopez Obrador and his supporters [JURIST report] for setting up an "illegal blockade" that brought parts of the capital to a standstill. According to the official results [JURIST report], Lopez Obrador lost the election by about 220,000 votes to Felipe Calderon [campaign website, in Spanish; Wikipedia profile]. EFE News has more.