Zapatistas address Mexican congress

Leaders of the Zapatista rebels in Mexico have begun addressing congress in what has been called an unprecedented act of congressional lobbying.

The rebels are calling for the approval of legislation granting more autonomy to Mexico's indians, who make up about ten per cent of the population.

On Tuesday, the Zapatistas issued a statement saying indigenous people would be entering congress through the front door, something which they said has rarely happened in Mexico. The rebels invited some two-hundred indigenous leaders from Mexico and abroad for the special session of congress.

But the ruling National Action Party PAN is expected to boycott the Zapatistas' appearance in congress, saying it represented a serious breach of protocol. The Zapatista rebels arrived in Mexico City almost three weeks ago with the aim of addressing deputies and senators.

But critics said it would be wrong for masked leaders of a guerrilla movement to appear before congress.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service