MEXICO CITY - Military weakness and strong pressure from the Mexican army combined to force Zapatista Indian rebels to agree to sign their first peace accord with the government, analysts said yesterday.
In the clearest sign to date that the rebels intended to lay down their arms for good, the Zapatistas read a statement in the southern mountain town of San Andres Larrainzar that said 96 per cent of their supporters had voted to accept the accord, which is to be signed later this week.