*Rough cut - no reporter narration*<br/> <br />Mexico's famed Popocatepetl volcano continued to show signs of activity on Wednesday, spewing ash on nearby towns and villages.<br/> <br />Residents of the nearny town of Xalizintla have had to wear protective face masks in recent days to avoid inhaling the ash.<br/> <br />The 5,483 metre volcano lies just 64 kilometres southeast of Mexico City.<br/> <br />The volcano, whose name means "Smoking Mountain" in the Nahuatl Indian language, has spat out mile high clouds of ash and smoke several times this year.<br/> <br />Its last major eruption took place in 2000.
