Five same-sex couples were married today in Mexico City after a recent change to the city's laws.

They are the first to have legally recognised same-sex weddings anywhere in Latin America.

The judge who witnessed four of the five marriages, Hegel Cortes, called it "an historic day".

But the move has many opponents.

The Mexican law and the resulting marriages have ignited a storm of protest.

The Catholic Church is staunchly opposed. So is the federal government, including president Felipe Calderon.

The attorney general has filed an appeal to stop the marriages, but Mexico's federal courts rarely interfere in cases involving lower jurisdictions.

Homosexuality remains anathema throughout most of Latin America.

While one gay couple was married in Argentina last year, that marriage was quickly struck down by the courts.