Mexico's president promises national "rebirth"

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday promised "to root out" corruption and bring about a national "rebirth."

"With a good government, which is what was missing, we are going to accomplish the rebirth of our country. There is going to be progress with justice," Lopez Obrador said in his New Year's Eve message.

The president, who took office on Dec. 1, called on Mexicans to welcome 2019 "with optimism."

The year 2018 was "a year of hope because Mexicans opted for a transformation, a real change in government," he said.

Obrador's National Regeneration Movement won the presidency and a majority in Congress in July.