Mexican lawmakers throw punches

MEXICO CITY, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- A number of Mexican lawmakers exchanged punches Tuesday on the congressional floor just days before the new president is sworn in, El Universal reported online.

A number of left-wing deputies exchanged blows with conservative officials when the former tried to take the podium to denounce the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Felipe Calderon.

The protesting lawmakers said the Calderon election was a fraud.

The president-elect defeated Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador by less than 1 percentage point, according to exit polls.

Earlier this month Obrador declared himself the country's alternative president of a parallel government following his own inauguration ceremony.