MICHAEL HOLMES, WORLD NEWS: A leader of the Zapatista rebels says he is ready to meet with Mexican president Vicente Fox, although he says still does not trust the newly inaugurated president. Late on Friday, Mr. Fox ordered government troops to withdraw from parts of the troubled state of Chiapas. CNN's Harris Whitbeck has more.</s>HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a sight many Zapatista rebels in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas had hoped for a long time, Mexican army troops withdrawing from positions they had held for years, encircling the rebels as peace talks stalled. Mexican president Vicente Fox ordered the partial troops withdrawal hours after being sworn in on Friday. During his inaugural address, Fox also said he was going to ask Congress to ratify a peace accord that had been signed but never implemented by the government in 1996. That accord would provide legal protections for Indians, including the right of self determination. The gestures by the new government were cautiously welcomed by the Zapatista leadership. Subcommander Marcos, the leftist intellectual who leads the Indian rebel movement, told reporters at a rebel camp in Chiapas that he would lead a delegation of Zapatistas that would travel to Mexico City in February to talk peace. Restarting the stalled peace talks had been a priority for Mexico's new president. He said throughout his campaign that Indians deserve more rights. The Mexican congress is set to begin discussing the new Indian rights laws next week. Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Mexico City.
Zapatista Leader Says He Will Meet With Mexico's President Fox