L.A. TO MARK MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE TODAY.

Byline: RACHEL URANGA Staff Writer

With the Mexican green, white and red flags waving, thousands are expected to convene in front of City Hall tonight for the annual ``El Grito'' marking Mexico's independence from Spain.

In Los Angeles -- home to the largest population of Mexicans outside Mexico -- top regional Mexican musicians are slated to perform, and the celebration will be aired on Spanish-language television. It is also the city's official kickoff of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The cry for independence -- ``El Grito de Independencia'' -- commemorates priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's 1810 call to the country's poor to reject Spain's rule. Late on Sept. 15, 1810, he rang a bell and called for independence, triggering a struggle that lasted more than a decade.

On the steps of City Hall, Ruben Beltran, Mexico's counsel general, will ring the bell in commemoration of the day and cry ``Viva Mexico'' as Mexican President Vicente Fox is ringing the bell in the small town of Dolores Hidalgo, 170 north of the capital.

On Thursday, Fox announced he had moved the celebration from the traditional location at the Zocalo main square in Mexico City because of anticipated protests from supporters of presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who have been camped out to voice their displeasure with the narrow victory of president-elect Felipe Calderon.

Officials in L.A. said that in the case of violence in Mexico, they have beefed up security here.

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com

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IF YOU GO

Los Angeles holds its Mexican Independence Day celebration tonight, with Banda El Recodo performing at 7:30 and the official ceremony beginning at 8:30 at 200 N. Spring St.

San Fernando hosts festivities at 6 p.m., ending with ``El Grito'' around 8 p.m. at 117 MacNeil St. For information: [phone].

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