13 more bodies found in mass graves in northern Mexico

[News_Editor]

13 more bodies found in mass graves in northern Mexico

2011-04-08 23:04:39 GMT+7 (ICT)

TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Mexican authorities on Fridya announced that 13 more bodies were located in mass graves in Tamaulipas state, northeastern Mexico.

According to El Universal newspaper, the new discovery was made in the San Fernando municipality, the same place where 59 bodies were located in egiht mass graves.

With Friday's discovery, authorities have unearthed 72 bodies in San Fernando. The same number of people found dead in the same place in August 2010. In that case, the victims were Central and South American migrants killed by members of Los Zetas cartel.

Jaime Canseco, Tamaulipas Secretary-General, said that the bodies unearthed were not migrants. He added that it is believed that they were people who refused to enlist within the ranks of Los Zetas drug cartel.

In addition, Canseco said the 72 victims were men and Mexican nationals. An investigation was launched to determine if the 13 bodies are related to the 59 victims located earlier.

The first mass graves were discovered by police officers while investigating reports that passengers from a bus were kidnapped in late March. Forensic investigators have not confirmed yet if the bodies are the missing passengers.

"These reprehensible acts underline the cowardice and the total lack of scruples of the criminal organizations, which generate violence in our country, particularly in the state of Tamaulipas," said Mexico's President Felipe Calderon on Thursday.

On Wednesday, thousands of people participated in protests in 24 states agaisnt the government's anti-crime strategy and the increasing violence in the country. Since President Calderon was elected in 2006, over 30,000 people have died in connection to drug-related violence.

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