7 Nov 2010

Bodies in Mexico mass grave identified as tourists

10:03 pm on 7 November 2010

The bodies found in a mass grave in Mexico on Thursday are those of 18 kidnapped tourists.

The Mexican men disappeared on 30 September when they left their home town of Morelia to holiday in Acapulco.

The BBC reports they are believed to have been kidnapped by a drugs gang, but it is not clear why.

Authorities say there have been more than 80 drug gang-related killings in the city this year alone.

The families of the men, many of whom were related, have said most of them were mechanics who saved up money to take a vacation together each year.

Police officers and troops examined the site of the mass grave just outside Acapulco on Wednesday, after a video was posted on the internet detailing its whereabouts.

Two men featured in that video - who identified themselves as repentant gang members - are also believed to have been killed.