NEW YORK (Reuters) - France plans to channel aid to rebel-held parts of Syria so that these "liberated zones" can administer themselves and staunch an outflow of refugees, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.
He said France and Turkey had identified areas in the north and south that had escaped President Bashar al-Assad's control, creating a chance for local communities to govern themselves without feeling they had to flee to neighboring countries.
"Maybe in these liberated zones Syrians who want to flee the regime will find refuge which in turn makes it less necessary to cross the border whether in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan or Iraq," Fabius said after a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday.
However, civilians in rebel-held parts of Syria have suffered frequent deadly air strikes from Assad's forces.
It was not clear how Fabius's promise to allocate much of its future 5 million euros ($6.25 million) aid for Syria to these areas would protect civilians and deter them from fleeing.
"What we can see is that the opposition has taken strong positions in liberated zones in the north and south," Fabius said. "Those resisting who have taken control of certain zones and municipalities need to administer these areas."
Credible protection for "liberated" areas would require no-fly zones patrolled by foreign aircraft, but there is no chance of securing a U.N. Security Council mandate for such action, given opposition from veto-wielding members Russia and China.
Western powers have also said they will not supply weapons to lightly-armed Syrian rebels, who have few answers to attacks by Assad's combat planes and helicopter gunships.
After the council meeting to discuss the humanitarian crisis ravaging Syria after 17 months of conflict, Western powers said military action to secure safe zones was still an option.
But they have shown little appetite for sending warplanes to Syria to protect safe havens or mount the kind of NATO bombing that helped Libyan rebels topple Muammar Gaddafi last year.
Up to 300,000 Syrians have fled the country, while many more are displaced inside, humanitarian agencies say.
Turkey, which has called for buffer zones to be created, now hosts more than 80,000 Syrian refugees and the U.N. refugee agency says the eventual figure could reach 200,000.
The United Nations questioned the idea of buffer zones. "Bitter experience has shown that it is rarely possible to provide effective protection and security in such areas," said U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Ant?nio Guterres.
Fabius said more help must be given to rebel-held areas.
"We need to help them financially, administratively, sanitarily and in terms of equipment. We are helping them directly as is Turkey," the foreign minister said.
Paris and Ankara were working to identify individuals in these zones who could be part of a future Syrian authority.
"In the Syria of the future, these people will play an important role because they have emerged out of the conflict and they have the trust of the population," Fabius said.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said earlier this week that the United States had started programmes for administrators in territories outside Assad's control.
"We have been working with them on issues of civil administration, human rights training, the kinds of things that they might need from the international community as they begin to rebuild their towns," she said.
Nuland said the training involved programmes outside Syria for those able to leave the country and "pretty extensive contacts" with those unable to leave.
"They are asking for help in how to budget, they are asking for help in how to keep utilities running, how to ensure that the institutions of the state that provide services to the population come back up and running," she said.
The United Nations says nearly 20,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising against Assad began in March, 2011. Syrian opposition groups put the death toll far higher.
(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Alistair Lyon)
American Society of Agronomy presents 2012 class of fellowsPublic release date: 30-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Sara Uttech suttech@agronomy.org 608-268-4948 American Society of Agronomy
Fellows to be recognized at the Annual Meetings in Cincinnati in October
MADISON, WI - Aug. 30, 2012 The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) announces the following 2012 Fellows that will be formally recognized during their Annual Meetings, Oct. 21-24, 2012 in Cincinnati, OH. ASA has been selecting outstanding members as Fellows since 1924. Members of the Society nominate worthy colleagues based on their professional achievements and meritorious service. Only 0.3 percent of the Society's active and emeritus members may be elected Fellow. The 2012 class of ASA Fellows are:
Freddie M. Bourland, University of Arkansas: Fred Bourland is a Professor and Agronomist in the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Arkansas. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Arkansas, and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.
Frank J. Coale, University of Maryland: Frank J. Coale is Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Environmental Science & Technology at the University of Maryland. He received a B.S. from the University of Maryland and M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky.
Sam E. Feagley, Texas A&M University: Sam Feagley is a Professor and Extension State Soil Environmental Specialist in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department at Texas A&M University. He received a B.S. and M.S. from Texas A&M and Ph.D. from University of Missouri.
Kimberly Garland-Campbell, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA: Kimberly Garland-Campbell is a wheat geneticist and breeder at USDA-ARS at Pullman, WA and an adjunct faculty member at Washington State University. She received a Ph.D. in Crop Science from North Carolina State University in 1992 and was a winter wheat breeder (1992-1999) at Ohio State University.
Barry Glaz, USDA-ARS, Canal Point, FL: Barry Glaz is a Research Agronomist at the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station in Canal Point, FL. He received a B.S. from the Ohio State University and M.S. from the University of Illinois.
Timothy R. Green, USDA-ARS: Timothy Richard Green is a Research Hydrologist with the USDA-ARS Agricultural systems Research Unit in Colorado. He earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University.
William Jokela, USDA-ARS: William (Bill) Jokela is a research soil scientist with the USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center in Marshfield, WI. He received a B.A. in Biology from Carleton College and M.S. and Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Minnesota.
Alex L. Kahler, Bio-Genetic Services Inc: Alex Kahler is president and founder of Biogenetic Services, Inc. located in Brookings. South Dakota since 1988. He received B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Davis.
Kim Kidwell, Washington State University: Kim Kidwell, professor, is the Executive Associate Dean in Washington State University's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. She received B.S. degrees from University of Illinois, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from University of Wisconsin.
Mohamed Mergoum, North Dakota State University: Mohamed Mergoum is an Endowed Professor and wheat breeder in the Plant Sciences Department at North Dakota State University. He received his B.S. from the IAV Institute, Rabat, Morocco; M.S. from the University of Minnesota; and Ph.D. from Colorado State University.
Binayak Prasad Mohanty, Texas A&M University: Binayak Mohanty is a Professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University. He received B.S. from Orissa, India, M.S. from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, and Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
Robert L. Rhykerd, Illinois State University: Rob Rhykerd is a Professor of Agronomy and Chair of the Department of Agriculture at Illinois State University. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Purdue University and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.
William T. Schapaugh, Jr., Kansas State University: William T. Schapaugh, Jr. is a professor and soybean breeder in the Kansas State University Department of Agronomy. He received a B.S. from Iowa State University and M.S. and Ph.D. from Purdue University.
Martin J. Shipitalo, USDA-ARS: Martin Shipitalo is a Research Soil Scientist at the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames, Iowa. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from The Ohio State University, and Ph.D. from the University of Guelph.
Gilbert C. Sigua, USDA-ARS: Dr. Gilbert C. Sigua is a Research Soil Scientist at the USDA-ARS Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center in Florence, SC. He received a B.S. from Central Luzon State University, Philippines, M.S. from University of Arkansas, and Ph.D. from Louisiana State University.
Wayne Smith, Texas A&M University: Wayne Smith is a Professor, Associate Department Head, and Plant Breeder in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department at Texas A&M University. He received a B.S. and M.S. at Auburn University and Ph.D. from University of Tennessee.
Merle F. Vigil, USDA-ARS, Akron, CO: Merle Vigil is the Research Leader and a Soil Scientist at the USDA-ARS Central Great Plains Research Station in Akron, CO. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Colorado State University, and a Ph.D. from Kansas State University.
Baoshan Xing, University of Massachusetts-Amherst: Baoshan Xing is Full Professor and Environmental and Soil Chemist in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts. He received a Ph.D. from University of Alberta, Canada.
###
For more information on the 2012 ASA awards, visit: www.agronomy.org/awards/award. For more information on the 2012 Annual Meetings, visit: www.acsmeetings.org.
Photos of the recipients receiving their awards will be posted online following the Annual Meetings and placed on our Newsroom page: www.acsmeetings.org/newsroom/news-releases
The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) www.agronomy.org, is a scientific society helping its 8,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and by providing quality, research-based publications and a variety of member services.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
American Society of Agronomy presents 2012 class of fellowsPublic release date: 30-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Sara Uttech suttech@agronomy.org 608-268-4948 American Society of Agronomy
Fellows to be recognized at the Annual Meetings in Cincinnati in October
MADISON, WI - Aug. 30, 2012 The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) announces the following 2012 Fellows that will be formally recognized during their Annual Meetings, Oct. 21-24, 2012 in Cincinnati, OH. ASA has been selecting outstanding members as Fellows since 1924. Members of the Society nominate worthy colleagues based on their professional achievements and meritorious service. Only 0.3 percent of the Society's active and emeritus members may be elected Fellow. The 2012 class of ASA Fellows are:
Freddie M. Bourland, University of Arkansas: Fred Bourland is a Professor and Agronomist in the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Arkansas. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Arkansas, and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.
Frank J. Coale, University of Maryland: Frank J. Coale is Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Environmental Science & Technology at the University of Maryland. He received a B.S. from the University of Maryland and M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky.
Sam E. Feagley, Texas A&M University: Sam Feagley is a Professor and Extension State Soil Environmental Specialist in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department at Texas A&M University. He received a B.S. and M.S. from Texas A&M and Ph.D. from University of Missouri.
Kimberly Garland-Campbell, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA: Kimberly Garland-Campbell is a wheat geneticist and breeder at USDA-ARS at Pullman, WA and an adjunct faculty member at Washington State University. She received a Ph.D. in Crop Science from North Carolina State University in 1992 and was a winter wheat breeder (1992-1999) at Ohio State University.
Barry Glaz, USDA-ARS, Canal Point, FL: Barry Glaz is a Research Agronomist at the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station in Canal Point, FL. He received a B.S. from the Ohio State University and M.S. from the University of Illinois.
Timothy R. Green, USDA-ARS: Timothy Richard Green is a Research Hydrologist with the USDA-ARS Agricultural systems Research Unit in Colorado. He earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University.
William Jokela, USDA-ARS: William (Bill) Jokela is a research soil scientist with the USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center in Marshfield, WI. He received a B.A. in Biology from Carleton College and M.S. and Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Minnesota.
Alex L. Kahler, Bio-Genetic Services Inc: Alex Kahler is president and founder of Biogenetic Services, Inc. located in Brookings. South Dakota since 1988. He received B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Davis.
Kim Kidwell, Washington State University: Kim Kidwell, professor, is the Executive Associate Dean in Washington State University's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. She received B.S. degrees from University of Illinois, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from University of Wisconsin.
Mohamed Mergoum, North Dakota State University: Mohamed Mergoum is an Endowed Professor and wheat breeder in the Plant Sciences Department at North Dakota State University. He received his B.S. from the IAV Institute, Rabat, Morocco; M.S. from the University of Minnesota; and Ph.D. from Colorado State University.
Binayak Prasad Mohanty, Texas A&M University: Binayak Mohanty is a Professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University. He received B.S. from Orissa, India, M.S. from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, and Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
Robert L. Rhykerd, Illinois State University: Rob Rhykerd is a Professor of Agronomy and Chair of the Department of Agriculture at Illinois State University. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Purdue University and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.
William T. Schapaugh, Jr., Kansas State University: William T. Schapaugh, Jr. is a professor and soybean breeder in the Kansas State University Department of Agronomy. He received a B.S. from Iowa State University and M.S. and Ph.D. from Purdue University.
Martin J. Shipitalo, USDA-ARS: Martin Shipitalo is a Research Soil Scientist at the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames, Iowa. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from The Ohio State University, and Ph.D. from the University of Guelph.
Gilbert C. Sigua, USDA-ARS: Dr. Gilbert C. Sigua is a Research Soil Scientist at the USDA-ARS Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Research Center in Florence, SC. He received a B.S. from Central Luzon State University, Philippines, M.S. from University of Arkansas, and Ph.D. from Louisiana State University.
Wayne Smith, Texas A&M University: Wayne Smith is a Professor, Associate Department Head, and Plant Breeder in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department at Texas A&M University. He received a B.S. and M.S. at Auburn University and Ph.D. from University of Tennessee.
Merle F. Vigil, USDA-ARS, Akron, CO: Merle Vigil is the Research Leader and a Soil Scientist at the USDA-ARS Central Great Plains Research Station in Akron, CO. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Colorado State University, and a Ph.D. from Kansas State University.
Baoshan Xing, University of Massachusetts-Amherst: Baoshan Xing is Full Professor and Environmental and Soil Chemist in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts. He received a Ph.D. from University of Alberta, Canada.
###
For more information on the 2012 ASA awards, visit: www.agronomy.org/awards/award. For more information on the 2012 Annual Meetings, visit: www.acsmeetings.org.
Photos of the recipients receiving their awards will be posted online following the Annual Meetings and placed on our Newsroom page: www.acsmeetings.org/newsroom/news-releases
The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) www.agronomy.org, is a scientific society helping its 8,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and by providing quality, research-based publications and a variety of member services.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
One simple day in New York there was an outbreak in Kidnapping..Which was odd there's not that much kidnapping in one week...somethings going on but what?
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I'm going to reserve a female Charrie who are the other FCs could one be Taylor swift? Sorry ignore me I'm getting carried away
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SPARKS, Md., Aug. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --?McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE: MKC), a global leader in flavor, today announced the opening of McCormick World of Flavors, the company's first retail destination.? A brand showcase, the retail destination will feature McCormick's range of products with areas focusing on cooking, baking and grilling. ?At McCormick World of Flavors, visitors will find McCormick US and international brands like OLD BAY, Vahine and Grill Mates.?
The opening of McCormick World of Flavors is an exciting step in McCormick's evolution as a global company; McCormick flavors, seasonings and products can be found in 110 countries around the world.? McCormick World of Flavors brings that family of products together for all to enjoy and experience.
"The opening of McCormick World of Flavors is an exciting new way to connect with millions of people who love food and flavor," said Alan Wilson, McCormick Chairman, President and CEO.? "Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with many of our brands from around the world as we showcase how we bring flavor to their lives each and every day. Having a retail destination in the Baltimore Inner Harbor brings us back to our roots, offers visitors a chance to have fun, learn and engage."??
As part of their visit, McCormick World of Flavor guests will enjoy interactive and educational displays including Guess That Spice, a game that tests your sense of smell, FlavorPrint, an interactive personalized flavor profile and Flavors in the Making, videos on how spices and herbs are made. ?Cooking demonstrations and product sampling will allow visitors to experience the variety of flavors available in the retail store. ?There will be a wide range of gift items available for purchase, along with the new McCormick World of Flavors product line only available in the store that includes flavored salsas, olive oils, vinegars, tapenades and more.
McCormick World of Flavors is located on the first floor of the Light Street Pavilion at Harborplace at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. ?The address is 301 Light Street #1470, Baltimore MD 21202. ?Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am ? 9:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am ? 7:00 pm.
The retail destination is located steps away from the site of the McCormick Plant and Headquarters that stood at 414 Light Street from 1920 to 1989.
McCormick partnered with a number of companies to take the retail store idea to this final destination. These include: Bentz-Papson, Arlotta-Dinunzi Brand Theater, JGA architects, EEI Global, Blue Genie Art, 5th Screen Digital Services, Triangle Sign & Service, LLC and BuilderderGuru Contracting, Inc.
About McCormick
McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor.? With more than $3.5 billion in annual sales, the company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry ? retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses.
Every day, no matter where or what you eat, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick.? McCormick Brings Passion to Flavor?.
To learn more please visit us at www.mccormickcorporation.com.
?
For information contact:
Corporate Communications:? Lori Robinson (410) 527-6004 or lori_robinson@mccormick.com
or
MGH: Kathleen Shaffer (410) 902-5053 or kshaffer@mghus.com
When hardwood floors are newly installed, they look lustrous and elegant. They are so shiny that you feel like not walking on them as they may get damaged. Hardwood floors are quite durable and that is why they are meant to increase a property value. Given the fact that hardwood floors last really long, pressure of heavy furniture, exposure to moisture and walking on them with high heels can damage the quality of this type of flooring. However, there are certain things that you can do to protect your precious hardwood flooring from these damaging probabilities especially from furniture weight.
There are several products available for hardwood protection from furniture weight. For example, you can use furniture pads that are cork or felt pads. Place these pads on the furniture legs to reduce the pressure of the heavy furniture from your hardwood floor and thereby, prevent denting. Different furniture comes in varied sizes and weight. Therefore, the size of the furniture pad should differ with the size as well as the heaviness of the furniture.
You should be careful while moving the furniture. Hurrying while moving the furniture from one place to another can cause scratches on the hardwood floor easily. It is better to use a trolley, felt pads or a piece of plywood to protect the floor when you are moving furniture. You should take care of one thing always in this respect and that is to avoid sliding the furniture. Instead pick it up and move it. You may require help from others for this job, so do not feel shy to ask for help if you want to protect your valuable hardwood flooring. Also check that the furniture is moved properly during deliveries or when you are using movers.
You can visit a home improvement store to purchase area rugs that come with padding. Apart from adding a fine contrast to your room, area rugs also add padding between the weight of the furniture and the floor. When you are using area rugs, make sure that you use those that provide padding. Using area rugs without padding can damage your hardwood floor. In case, you have area rugs (without padding) at home, you can attach the padding with a tape.
Recoating your valuable hardwood floors is a good option. This should be done every 7 to 10 years as this forms an important part of proper cleaning and damage preventive methods for hardwood flooring. This particular preventive measure not only makes your hardwood floor strong and durable and lustrous but also protects the floor from the pressure produced by heavy furniture and other weighty items. Recoating provides a solid layer to your flooring. It gives protection against scratches and dents. You can save a lot of money regarding hardwood floors repairs in future.
These are the various ways by which you can protect your hardwood floors from furniture weight. You can also do a research on hardwood protectives products on the Internet for this purpose.
Emily Smith is a freelance architect and a home improvement analyst. She has been writing for many online publications since 2007. In her recent articles she shares some useful advices on hard surface floorliner. Emily often visits the article section of Paisleypro (http://www.paisleypro.com) to collect ideas on different types of protective products for different purposes.
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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's electoral court is poised to confirm President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto's victory in the July 1 ballot, despite allegations of vote buying and money laundering during the campaign, electoral officials and legal experts said.
Leftist runner-up Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who lost the presidential election by 3.3 million votes, challenged the result, alleging that Pena Nieto's party used slush funds to buy votes and breached spending limits.
Lopez Obrador demanded that the electoral court void the result and the suit has left Mexico in political limbo for weeks, denying Pena Nieto a head start in building consensus on economic reforms in Congress, where his centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) failed to win enough seats for an outright majority.
Electoral officials have told Reuters privately they do not expect Pena Nieto's win to be overturned.
The court has until September 6 to rule on Lopez Obrador's charges, although court workers say a decision could come as soon as this week before the new Congress convenes on Saturday.
Lopez Obrador has accused the PRI of buying some 5 million votes, and has publicly presented receipts and tax documents to allege that the PRI used shell companies to fund the fraud.
Urban voters were showered with supermarket gift cards and mobile phone minutes while rural voters were plied with presents of fertilizer, cement and livestock, Lopez Obrador said.
Pena Nieto, who is due to take office on December 1, has rejected the claims, which election experts say are nearly impossible to prove unless someone is caught in the act.
Showing that a party handed out gifts does not prove that they coerced voters into casting a ballot for them, they noted. Parties can distribute gifts as part of their propaganda.
Legal experts are adamant that Lopez Obrador, who also unsuccessfully challenged the result of the 2006 presidential election, which he lost by less than one percentage point, has failed to prove that irregularities occurred on a big enough scale to justify throwing out the result.
"The issue is if it altered the general will, and what we have here are isolated cases," said Jose Vargas, the former top prosecutor for electoral crimes in Mexico.
TURNOUT BOOST
The accusations revived memories of vote-rigging and corruption when the PRI ruled Mexico between 1929 and 2000. The PRI won a return to power partly thanks to higher support among the poor, who critics say are a soft target for vote-buying.
In the poorest towns of Chiapas, Mexico's most impoverished and southernmost state, the PRI's coalition partner, the Green Party, was accused of orchestrating the drive to buy votes.
In the poor mountain village of Santiago el Pinar, the Greens won the local elections held on July 1 even though they had never received a single vote there before.
"The night before the election, they came in offering people money. That is how they won," said Lorenzo Gomez, a local resident.
The Greens deny the accusations.
Turnout was unusually strong in Chiapas during the election, surging 18 percentage points from the 2006 contest. In Santiago el Pinar, 93 percent of registered locals took part in the vote, about 30 points higher than the nationwide figure.
Chiapas was among the states Lopez Obrador said had suffered the worst voter fraud by the PRI and its allies. But experts say he has not presented enough evidence to make his case stick.
"The evidence is really weak," said Luis Ugalde, who led the Federal Electoral Institute in 2006. He, like many analysts, say Lopez Obrador is trying to distract from the loss and defend his position as the leader of Mexico's political left.
LOW QUALITY DEMOCRACY
Still, analysts agree that the allegations underscore Mexico's slow political development, where few officials are convicted, or even face charges, in corruption scandals.
"We have a low-quality democracy," Ugalde said. "Political impunity continues to be the same as before."
President Felipe Calderon's National Action Party (PAN) has also said there were signs the PRI used suspect funds and bought votes, but it has not demanded that judges invalidate the election. Instead, they are calling for electoral reform.
Luis Alberto Villareal, the PAN leader in Mexico's lower house, said that his party would push legislation that would make breaking campaign spending limits grounds for annulling an election.
Both Lopez Obrador and the PAN have alleged the PRI spent between 4 billion and 5 billion pesos (around $300 million to $380 million) -- or about 13 times the legal limit -- on the presidential campaign.
Parties are often accused of securing funds via illegal private donations and siphoning funds from local governments. While the federal government has improved transparency, state and local finances remain opaque and corruption is widespread.
The problems are aggravated by weak legal provisions to prosecute alleged financial crimes, said Edgardo Buscaglia, an expert on money laundering at Columbia University in New York.
"Electoral violations are obscene (but) there is no institutional framework to detect before or after the election what is really going on," he said. "There is no way to find out, judicially speaking, where the money comes from."
The PRI was long dogged by accusations of vote-buying and corruption during its decades-long grip on power.
In 2000, officials were accused of funneling over $100 million from state oil firm Pemex to fund the PRI's unsuccessful presidential bid. Electoral authorities fined the PRI but prosecutors failed to convict officials linked to the crime.
Lopez Obrador's allies have been accused of using similar tactics. In 2004, a close aide of Lopez Obrador was caught on camera stuffing wads of cash into a suitcase.
Under current law, Lopez Obrador's charges of overspending are likely to only result in fines for the PRI, experts said.
Pena Nieto himself has sought to dispel doubts about his probity by pushing anti-corruption reform plans to the top of his agenda. He is promising to extend transparency laws to the state and local level after he takes office. ($1 = 13.1865 Mexican pesos)
(Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg and Liz Diaz; Editing by Dave Graham and Paul Simao)
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