Protesting teachers blocking Mexico highways leaves gas and food supplies low

Business leaders and government officials said Wednesday that supplies of gasoline, food and other goods are running out in southern Mexico because protesting teachers have blockaded key highways.

Tourism is one of the key economic activities in the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas and it's been hit severely by the protests. The Interior Department said that only about 5 percent of hotel rooms in the colonial city of Oaxaca were occupied. Normally at this time of year, Oaxaca is gearing up for next month's annual Guelaguetza folklore festival, which usually draws hundreds of thousands of tourists.

The . . .