Mexican military leave Zapatista stronghold

Mexican soldiers have left the main Zapatista headquarters in the southern state of Chiapas after surrounding it for a day.

A local rebel spokesman said the base was on alert in case the soldiers return to occupy the area.

A BBC correspondent -- who has just returned from La Realidad -- says the military operation can be seen as a show of force designed to make the Zapatistas accept the government's terms for negotiations.

However, she adds, the recent military build-up in Chiapas has only served to increase tensions between the two sides.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service