Mexican President Officiates Sparsely Attended Independence Ceremony

President Enrique Peña Nieto gave the traditional shout of “Viva Mexico” to celebrate Mexican Independence in the Mexico City Zócalo on Wednesday night. The tradition goes back 205 years to the cry of revolutionary leader Father Miguel Hidalgo against Spanish colonialism. The Presidency, however, has been accused of paying people to attend the event after thousands of people sent a Twitter message urging people not to participate in the celebration as a protest against the violence and corruption prevailing in the country. teleSUR