Punching, pushing and shouting: Mexican Senate erupts into violence. Video

Mexico's Senate descended into chaos on Wednesday after a heated debate culminated in a physical brawl between lawmakers. The confrontation broke out when Alejandro 'Alito' Moreno, head of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), confronted Senate president Gerardo Fernandez Norona of the ruling Morena party as the day's session was ending.

Livestreamed footage showed Moreno approaching Fernandez Norona during the singing of the national anthem, demanding to be allowed to speak and grabbing the chamber president by the arm.

"Don't touch me," Fernandez Norona retorted, before the two began pushing each other. Moreno knocked over a photographer in the scuffle, and another PRI lawmaker jumped in, throwing punches at Fernandez Norona as he attempted to back away.

The clash followed what Fernndez Norona described as a "difficult debate" over the presence of foreign armed forces in Mexico. He later accused Moreno of assaulting him, claiming the opposition leader threatened to "beat the shit out of you" and even kill him.

Fernndez Norona announced he would convene an emergency session on Friday, during which he plans to propose the expulsion of Moreno and three other PRI legislators involved in the fight. Moreno, however, countered that Fernandez Norona had swung at him first.

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