Protesters burn ballots in Mexico midterm elections

Mexicans are heading to the polls for midterm elections despite violent protests in parts of the country.

Protesters burned ballot boxes in several states of southern Mexico in an attempt to disrupt Sunday's elections seen as a litmus test for President Enrique Pena Nieto's government.
Thousands of soldiers and federal police were guarding polling stations where violence and calls for boycotts threatened to mar elections for 500 seats in the lower house of Congress, nine of 31 governorships and hundreds of mayors and local officials.
Election authorities said 99 percent of polling stations remained open despite the violence.
After casting his ballot in Mexico City, Pena Nieto said there were only reports of "isolated incidents" and that it was "rather satisfying to know that the great majority of polling stations were installed".
Midterm elections usually draw light turnout, but attention was unusually high this time as a loose coalition of radical teachers' unions and activists vowed to block the vote.
The teachers' demands include wage hikes, an end to teacher testing and the safe return of 43 students who disappeared last September. Prosecutors say they were killed and incinerated by a drug gang.

Aljazeera