Mexico City postpones soccer matches amid protests

MEXICO CITY — Mexico's top-division soccer league has announced the postponement of two weekend soccer matches at the request of the Mexico City government because of expected street protests and a presidential speech.

The city normally sends hundreds of police to soccer matches to ward off fan violence, but the MX league says the city asked it to reschedule the games.

The city interior secretary says the police are needed to provide security at protests planned by striking teachers over the weekend, and the president's state-of-the-nation address Sunday.

City residents said yesterday they have been forced to adopt new strategies to get around the demonstrations, with people using bikes more and taxi drivers refusing fares to protest-propone neighborhoods.

Teachers have been protesting for over a week against an education reform bill.