Mexican government stands by decision to close power firm despite protest

The Mexican government said Thursday it would not back down on its decision to close the state-run Central Light and Power company after former company employees took to the streets on Wednesday and brought traffic in Mexico City to a halt.

"There is no going back," Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare Javier Lozano Alarcon told reporters, adding that more than 50 percent of the company's workers had accepted liquidation payments.

He also said the strikers were at fault for violence, which ended with the arrest of 10 people during clashes between police and protesters.

The government shut down the company last month, saying the move was prompted by the company's huge loss.

The company, which supplies electricity for Mexico City and five neighboring states, will be taken over by another state-run firm, the Federal Electricity Commission, which supplies the rest of the nation.

Source:Xinhua