The governing party in Mexico has expressed deep concern about the implications of Tuesday's vote in California in favour of ending bilingual education in state schools there.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party, PRI, said the children of millions of people of Latin American origin in California -- especially Mexicans -- risked losing one of the main means of identifying with their countries.

The PRI said it opposed any form of discrimination againstMexican identity and pledged support for efforts by California's Mexicans to preserve their culture.

So far, non-English-speaking children in California have been taught in their own language and learnt English gradually.

Yesterday , a coalition of teachers, civil rights and immigrant groups in California asked the courts to block abolishing bilingual education.