Mexican Independence Day Celebration

This year's grito in Mexico City may be louder than usual. The "Cry of Independence" takes place in town squares across the country on September 15th at 11 pm, with the most spirited celebrations taking place in Mexico City's Zocalo led by the president. However, with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's supporters camped out in the Zocalo and along the Paseo de la Reforma for the past six weeks, there's been speculation about how the Independence Day celebrations will unfold this year. Lopez Obrador says he's going to set up an alternate government with himself as president and he plans to give the grito in the Zocalo. President Vicente Fox is also planning to give the grito as customary from the balcony of the Palacio Nacional overlooking the Zocalo - at the same time. It may come down to who can shout the loudest, though representatives of the President have said that this is a festivity for all Mexicans, and it's not about political parties.

Lopez Obrador has conceded to let the traditional military parade of September 16th take place as usual. The protest camps will be lifted at 2 am, after the festivities of the night of the 15th. It's unclear whether the camps will be put back up when the celebration is over.