SAN ANDRES LARBAINZAR - Mexico's government and Zapatista rebels have reached their first agreement on indigenous rights. The accord, which must be ratified within 20 days, seeks to improve the constitutional rights of Chiapas Indians.
The government saw it as an important step to peace but the Zapatistas were more guarded. The agreement speaks of guaranteeing "respect for the difference and recognition of the indigenous identity as intrinsic components of our nationality," the government said.