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Mexico missing students: Capital braced for mass protests | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Relatives of 43 missing Mexican students, whom the authorities say were murdered by a drugs gang, have arrived in the capital ahead of mass protests. | |
Convoys carrying the families arrived in Mexico City on Thursday after touring the country to rally support. | |
The Mexican authorities say local police handed the students to a drug gang who then murdered them. | The Mexican authorities say local police handed the students to a drug gang who then murdered them. |
But some families of the missing are unconvinced by this explanation and still hope they will be found alive. | But some families of the missing are unconvinced by this explanation and still hope they will be found alive. |
Francisco Lagro, father of 19-year-old Magdaleno, one of those missing, has been travelling on one of the caravans. | |
"It's been almost two months without knowing where they are. We don't know anything and we're desperate," he said. | |
"What are they doing? In what conditions? Do they get any water or food? Are they tied up? We have so many questions." | |
President's test | |
Thousands of people are expected to take part in the march in the capital, which starts at 17:00 local time (23:00 GMT). Protests are also under way in other parts of Mexico and abroad. | |
Many shops and businesses were reportedly closed on Thursday ahead of the demonstrations. | |
Demonstrators have also called for a nationwide strike. | |
In one of the first rallies of the day, a small group of protesters at Mexico City's airport was dispersed by police. | |
The abduction has galvanised opposition to rampant political corruption and violence, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Mexico City. | The abduction has galvanised opposition to rampant political corruption and violence, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Mexico City. |
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has accused some of the protestors of trying to "destabilise" the state. | Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has accused some of the protestors of trying to "destabilise" the state. |
Analysts say it is the biggest challenge he has faced in his two years of office. | |
The students, all trainee teachers, went missing after attending a protest in Iguala, Guerrero State. | The students, all trainee teachers, went missing after attending a protest in Iguala, Guerrero State. |
Forensic tests are being carried out on bodies found in mass graves in the state. | Forensic tests are being carried out on bodies found in mass graves in the state. |
More than 100,000 people have been killed and 27,000 have disappeared in Mexico in the last decade. | More than 100,000 people have been killed and 27,000 have disappeared in Mexico in the last decade. |