Asia-Pacific

Mexican president urges citizens to unite

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-16 11:30

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon called on Mexicans Sunday to unite during the Independence Bicentenary and Revolution Centenary celebrations.

Upon receiving the bodies of the 14 most important independence heroes in Mexico City, Calderon said that the transportation and exhibition of these bodies serve to honor these heroes.

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Mexico is displaying the bones of 13 of its founding fathers -- and one founding mother -- at the National Palace as part of its yearlong bicentennial celebrations.

The bones were removed from crypts under Mexico's Independence monument in May and will be returned in 2011.

Calderon said the heroes have given their lives "for us to break the chains that were tying us to slavery."

He also said that Mexican unity is fundamental "to build a future."

Mexico began its war of independence from the Spanish crown on September 15, 1810, and September 16 was made the country's Independence Day.