MEXICO CITY, April 8 (UPI) -- Mexican authorities have decided to strip Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of immunity from prosecution, El Universal reports.
Obrador could face fines and prison time on abuse of power charges stemming from his decision to defy a judge's order in 2001 to end construction of an access road to a hospital.
Opponents of the mayor accuse Obrador of abusing his office to further his political ambitions. Many analysts project him as a frontrunner in next year's presidential elections set for July.
However, Obrador would be barred from running if he is facing criminal charges, according to Mexican law.
Obrador says the federal attorney general's case against him is a political ploy by Mexico's old guard to keep the left-wing mayor out of the nation's highest office.
On Thursday he addressed some 100,000 supporters gathered downtown and implored them to stage non-violent protests on his behalf.
