Mexico's 'circus wars' heat up amid animal bans

Mexico's "circus wars" are heating up, with a growing movement to ban circus animals meeting rising anger from circus workers.

There have been threats posted on social networking sites urging people to attack circuses, Armando Cedeno, the head of the nation's circus owners' association, said at a demonstration by circus performers on Tuesday.

"We have a lot of threats on Facebook, with environmentalists urging people to go burn down circuses, which is very worrisome," Cedeno said as he oversaw a protest in Mexico City's main square at which circus entertainers put on a free show with horses and dogs - the only animals they will be allowed to use under a new city law banning acts with lions, tigers, elephants and other wild animals.

Aguascalientes state legislator Gilberto Gutierrez, a member of Mexico's Green party, said violence had already been inflicted - by the circus side. He said security guards beat him and other animal rights activists in front of a circus in his state in late June.

"They broke two of my teeth ... it was a direct hit," Gutierrez said. "It was an attack by the circus people, by the security guards."

The circus claimed the animal activists were blocking the entrance to the circus in Aguascalientes, where it is still legal to perform with exotic animals. Insults flew first, then fists and belts, the circus said.