[JURIST] Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador [campaign website, in Spanish], the leftist candidate challenging the results of Mexico's disputed July 2 presidential election [JURIST report], has rejected Monday's ruling by the country's Federal Electoral Tribunal [official website, in Spanish] reducing the lead of leader Felipe Calderon [campaign website, in Spanish] by only some 4000 votes after a partial recount. In a speech to supporters in Mexico City late Monday, Obrador accused the Tribunal's judges of serving the interests of the country's elite and declared that "We will never again allow an illegal and illegitimate government to be installed in our country."

The Tribunal has until September 6 to take the final official step of declaring a winner of the disputed contest pursuant to a final official tally. Obrador, who had unsuccessfully called for a full recount [JURIST report] of all ballots cast in the poll he insists was broadly tainted by fraud, says he will introduce what he called an "alternative" government at a rally scheduled for September 16, Mexico's Independence Day. AP has more. From Mexico City, El Universal has local coverage [in Spanish].