LAP99082607 - 26 AUGUST 1999 - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA: Newly naturalized citizen Jose Flores, formerly of Mexico, takes the Pledge of Allegiance at the Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles after joining 12,000 candidates in two seperate ceremonies. Since January, some 140,000 new citizens have been naturalized in the Los Angeles District. The top 5 countries of the 125 represented were: Mexico, Vietnam, El Salvador, The People's Republic of China and The Philipines. jr/jr/Jim Ruymen UPI