CHAVAJEBAL, Mexico (Reuters) - Mediators from Mexico`s Congress, seeking to foster peace in strife-torn Chiapas, went on Tuesday to one of the bloodiest scenes in the four-year conflict but were turned away by angry villagers. The snub, played out in front of reporters, drove home the challenges facing the country as it tries to end political violence in the state of Chiapas that erupted when pro-Indian Zapatista rebels launched an armed uprising on Jan. 1, 1994. Seven members of a congressional mediating commission known as Cocopa travelled deep into the highlands of Mexico`s southernmost state to the village of Chavajebal, where a week ago 10 people died in a clash between government troops and Zapatista supporters. A separate congressional team went even further into the highlands to the Zapatista enclave of La Realidad hoping to establish some preliminary contact with rebel

liaisons. Negotiators have been refused by the villagers. Authorities went in to break up an "autonomous community," one of about 30 in Chiapas where Zapatista supporters have ousted local officials and set up their own shadow government. State and federal agents previously broke up three other rebel townships without bloodshed. The government says Zapatista supporters in Chavajebal ambushed the 500 troops. People here disputed the claim, saying police opened fire and sprayed tear gas without provocation.