Tens of thousands of people march in Mexico City amid allegations that PRI vote-buying influenced millions of votes

Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Mexico City on Saturday to protest against Enrique PeÃ±a Nieto's apparent win in the country's presidential election, accusing his party of buying votes and paying TV networks for support.Demonstrators were angered by allegations that PeÃ±a Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary party (PRI) gave out groceries, pre-paid gift cards and other goods to voters before the national elections on 1 July.Students, unionists and leftists in Mexico City carried signs reading: "PeÃ±a, how much did it cost to become president?" and "Mexico, you pawned your future for 500 pesos."Officials estimated about 50,000 demonstrators gathered at the central Zocalo plaza."The fraud was carried out before (the election), buying votes, tricking the people," said Gabriel Petatan Garcia, a geography student who carried a sign in Finnish. Protesters also carried signs in English, Japanese, French, German and other languages to call the attention of the international press."The PRI threatens many people and buys others with a couple of tacos," said Manuel Ocegueda, a 43-year-old shop worker at the rally.PeÃ±a Nieto, a youthful 45-year-old married to a soap star, won last Sunday's election by 6.6 percentage points, according to the official count, bringing the PRI back to power after 12 years in opposition. The party had ruled Mexico for 71 consecutive years, with what critics say was the help of corruption, patronage and vote fraud.Rest at [ www.guardian.co.uk