Mexican president confirms won't attend Summit of the Americas

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed Monday that he would not attend the Summit of the Americas this week due to the exclusion of some countries by the US government.

"It's time to change the dominant political practice," the president told journalists during his daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City.

"There cannot be a Summit of the Americas if all the countries of the American continents do not participate," Lopez Obrador insisted.

The president called for a change in the US position, given its "lack of respect" for certain nations such as Cuba, which it has economically blockaded for decades.

Mexico will instead be represented by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard at the summit, which will be held in the US city of Los Angeles on June 6-10.

Lopez Obrador announced weeks ago that he would not attend the meeting if the US government did not invite all regional countries, including Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, which ultimately were excluded.