January 29, 1999

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Thousands of Mexican teachers protesting at the arrest of five colleagues brought traffic to a standstill in the Mexican capital on Friday while riot police and troops protected the president's residence.

"Political prisoners, free them," the crowd, estimated by police at 9,000, chanted under the eye of scores of riot police carrying batons and shields and presidential guards, some armed with high-power assault rifles.

There were no immediate reports of any clashes.

It was the second march this month by teachers protesting the detention of five elementary school teachers who stormed the Senate in November, breaking windows, fighting with security guards and holding legislators hostage for 10 hours to demand higher wages and greater independence from the government.

Government officials have rejected leniency pleas for the teachers, who face up to 40 years in prison if convicted of robbery, mutiny and illegally holding others captive.

Authorities had threatened to dock a day's pay off the salaries of teachers taking part in Friday's demonstration.

But that did not seem to deter them. In a 12-point statement handed in at President Ernesto Zedillo's official residence, the teachers demanded more pay for all workers and increased social spending by the government.

They also called for a troop withdrawal from Mexico's troubled southern state of Chiapas, site of a five-year stand-off between Zapatista Indian rebels and the army.

Some of Mexico City's 18 million residents, caught up in the traffic chaos, told local radio they were irritated by the disturbance but sympathised with the teachers.

Copyright 1999 Reuters.