Oaxaca teachers vote for return

Thousands of schools have been closed since the strike began, leaving 1.3 million children out of school.

The teachers have been joined in their protest by left-wing groups.

They want better conditions in schools and the removal from office of state Governor Ulises Ruiz, whom they accuse of abuse of power and electoral fraud.

At least five people have died in violence surrounding the protests - deaths which the protesters have blamed on police and armed gangs.

Senate criticism

A teaching union spokesman, Ezequiel Rosales, said about 60% of members had voted to end the strike.

But he added that the union would not agree a return date until it had received guarantees from the Mexican government, including security for returning teachers.

However, other protesters are reported to have said they will continue in their efforts to unseat Governor Ruiz.

Last week, Mexico's Senate decided by a 74-31 vote that the state government had not ceased to function, a condition necessary to remove a governor from office.

But the Senate recognised that conditions of "ungovernability" existed in the state and criticised Mr Ruiz for failing to bring months of violent protests to an end.

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Mexican Senate (in Spanish)
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