*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.