MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- President-elect Felipe Calderon vowed Thursday to be sworn in before Congress, despite leftist lawmakers' efforts to block his inauguration, and said he would have little patience for political protests and drug violence.Calderon insisted Friday's swearing-in ceremony must be held in Congress, where opposition legislators have been camped for three days. "This is what the constitution calls for," he said. "I'm not ignoring the complexity of the political moment or our differences, but I'm convinced that tomorrow we should put an end to our disagreements and begin a new era."
Calderon named military and security veterans as his top law enforcement aides. In a departure from the hands-off approach of outgoing President Vicente Fox, he said he would crack down on criminals who "challenge the authority of the state. We have to confront crime with vigorous action," Calderon said.
A wave of drug-related violence has claimed more than 2,000 lives this year, many in execution-style killings and decapitations, and at least nine people have died in Oaxaca state in demonstrations calling for the resignation of Gov. Ulises Ruiz. Along with security, the Harvard-educated Calderon has said that creating jobs and reducing poverty are his priorities.
But on the eve of the inauguration, it still wasn't clear where he would receive the presidential sash.
For the third day in a row, legislators from the ruling National Action Party and the Democratic Revolution Party were camped Thursday on the stage where Calderon was to be sworn in, with Calderon's leftist opponents trying to spoil a ceremony that will be attended by dignitaries from around the world, including former President George H.W. Bush.