Mexico arrests Guerrero gang leader over disappearance of 43 studentsSeptember 18, 2015 - 11:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Mexican authorities have arrested a gang leader who they say was a key figure in the disappearance of 43 students last year in the town of Iguala in Guerrero state, BBC News reports. The government says Gildardo Lopez Astudillo, known as "El Gil" is a leader of the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel. It alleges he gave the orders to abduct and kill the students. There have so far been 111 arrests over the disappearances. The Mexican attorney-general's office says its investigations show the Guerreros Unidos gang were handed the students by corrupt police in Iguala. The office has said because Guerreros Unidos thought the students were members of a rival gang, they murdered them and then disposed of the bodies by burning them at a rubbish dump outside the city. Official accounts contrast with a report issued by an international group of experts appointed by the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IAHRC). Their report earlier this month alleges that the Mexican authority's investigations were deeply flawed, and included the disappearance of key evidence. According to the experts, who visited the site where the Mexican authorities say the bodies were burnt, a fire fierce enough to incinerate the 43 students would have lasted over 60 hours and would have required tons of wood or rubber which would have burnt down the surrounding vegetation. No fire was reported in the area at the time of the disappearance. Earlier this week Austrian forensic experts announced they had identified the remains of a second victim found at the rubbish dump where the students bodies were allegedly burnt. The relatives of the 43 students have demanded that the government investigates the possible involvement of high-ranking members of the military in the disappearances. The apparent massacre of poor, rural students has posed problems for President Enrique Pena Nieto who took office in 2012 promising to stamp out drug-related violence. He has been criticised for his handling of the case and accused of trying to wrap it up without a comprehensive investigation. According to BBC, by charging "El Gil" with the disappearance of the students, the President would enable a swift end to the investigation. International experts have disputed the government's accounts of what happened and have said its investigation was deeply flawed. Photo: AFP Photo/ Omar Torres Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia PM meets Iran’s Supreme Leader in Tehran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei Ruling MP accuses opposition of “serving other countries' interests” Khachatur Sukiasyan has accused Armenia’s opposition of serving the interests of other countries Protest leader vows to achieve departure of Armenian authorities According to Archbishop Bagrat, there is only one solution to the situation in Armenia. Heads of Armenian, Ukrainian parliaments hold virtual talks Alen Simonyan and Ruslan Stefanchuk held talks via video conference on Tuesday, May 21. |