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Demonstrators in Mexico have attacked the Guerrero state congress in new protests against the government's handling of the disappearance of 43 students in September. The BBC reports:
Five vehicles were set alight outside the building in the state capital, Chilpancingo. The students disappeared in the nearby town of Iguala more than six weeks ago. Mexican officials say local gang members have confessed to killing the students and burning their bodies.
But remains found nearby have not yet been identified as the missing students.
The students' disappearance has led to weeks of violent protests across the country. Protester in Chilpancingo, Guerrero There were violent clashes in several areas of Chilpancingo during the day Attack against the Education Secretarariat's Finance Office Guerrero's Education Department building was also targeted during teachers' union march Today's attack caused extensive damage to the Guerrero state congress building.
It came after protesters torched the education department's audit office in Chilpancingo during a demonstration called by the teachers' union. On Tuesday demonstrators in Iguala attacked the regional headquarters of the ruling party (PRI).
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Sunday condemned violent protests over the apparent massacre of 43 students after demonstrators set fire to the door of his ceremonial palace in Mexico City. Reuters reports:
Tens of thousands of Mexicans have taken to the streets to protest the government's handling of the case of the missing students, and last night protesters in central Mexico City set fire to the door of the National Palace.
"It's unacceptable that someone should try to use this tragedy to justify violence," Pena Nieto told reporters at the airport in Anchorage, Alaska where he was en route to China. "You can't demand justice while acting with violence."
The students were abducted by corrupt police in southwestern Mexico in September.
Though the government said on Friday it looked as though the students had been killed, then incinerated by gangsters working with the police, it stopped short of confirming their deaths for lack of definitive evidence.
Pena Nieto's trip to China has infuriated protesters and relatives of the students, who believe he cares more about Mexico's business interests than trying to deal with the gang violence that has ravaged much of the country for years.
