Teachers stage protest in Mexico City

CNN January 13, 1999 Teachers stage protest in Mexico City

                  MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Thousands of teachers marched through
                  Mexico City on Wednesday to protest the jailing of five educators, snarling
                  traffic and forcing schools to cancel classes.

                  Police estimated that 8,500-10,000 teachers marched to the president's
                  residence where protesters turned over a letter demanding the freedom of
                  the jailed teachers.

                  The jailed teachers were arrested after they and other demonstrators
                  stormed the Senate in November-- breaking windows, damaging books,
                  fighting with security guards and holding legislators hostage for 10 hours-- in
                  a demand for higher wages and greater independence from the government.

Government officials have rejected leniency pleas and said the arrested
teachers face up to 40 years in jail if convicted.

Some 46 Mexico City schools cancelled classes on Wednesday when 3,500
teachers failed to show up, the Education Ministry said.

Teachers in the powerful teachers union warned of massive strikes if their
jailed counterparts were not freed.