MEXICO . . . ZEDILLO TAKES THE OATH

Ernesto ZedilloPonce de Leon, the reform-minded candidate of Mexico's ruling PRI party, was sworn in as his country's president today promising a war against poverty -- an effort to provide "dignified living conditions for every Mexican family." The inauguration followed a rough-and-tumble year that saw theassassinations of his party's first candidateand its secretary-general, plus anIndian rebellionand the advent of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The 42-year-old, U.S.-educated economist -- speaking before 1,500 Mexican officials as well as foreign leaders as diverse as Vice President Al Gore and Cuba's Fidel Castro --pledged help for the southern Chiapas state, where economic conditions spurred the Indian unrest. And Zedillo vowed to use NAFTA "to help generate the jobs we need and raise living standards."