The authorities in the troubled Mexican state of Chiapas have proposed creating thirty-three new municipalities in a move which they say would give local people more say over their affairs.

The councils would replace nearly forty autonomous communities set up by Zapatistas rebels.

The central government views these communities as a threat to national security and in recent months the security foces have raided several of them.

But a state government spokesman said the rebels were being invited to participate in drawing up the proposed changes.

An adviser to the Zaptatistas said the proposals were just a political ploy.