Police in Mexico have recovered 18
bodies from a mass grave amid a surge of suspected drug-related violence. They
had been buried in woodland in a rural area near Acapulco.
Reports suggest the graves could
contain the bodies of 20 missing men who were reportedly abducted at gunpoint
while visiting the city more than a month ago.
Officials said more bodies could be
found at the site and the search will resume later.
They began digging after receiving
an anonymous tip-off which led them to discover two bodies earlier this week.
Hours earlier, a video appeared on
YouTube in which two men, whose arms were apparently tied behind their backs,
said they killed 20 men from the neighbouring state of Michoacan.
They claimed they had been buried
in the same area.
More than 30 people have died in
separate violent attacks in Acapulco in the past 10 days.
A Canadian businessman disappeared
there last week and is feared dead after his rental car was found with an
unidentified burned body in the boot.
Suspected drug violence has left
more than 28,000 people dead nationwide since the launch of a military
clampdown on organised crime in 2006.
Meanwhile, US and Mexican
authorities have discovered a 1,800ft tunnel linking the two countries and used
for smuggling drugs.
It has a rail system, lighting and
ventilation and connected warehouses in Otay Mesa on the US side and Tijuana,
just inside Mexico.
Officials also seized 25 tons of
cannabis.
At least six underground tunnels
were discovered in 2009 and Mexican officials say some were designed to smuggle
drugs or migrants.
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