'Gang Massacred' Missing Mexico Students

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Video: Mexico Murders Reconstruction

Three suspected gang members have confessed to murdering 43 missing students at a landfill site before burning them beyond recognition and dumping them in a river, Mexican authorities have said.

In a sombre and lengthy news conference detailing the investigation, Attorney General Jesus Murillo said the suspects, caught a week ago, set about removing all the evidence.

"They didn't just burn the bodies with their clothes, they also burned the clothes of those who participated. They tried to erase every possible trace."

Video of the suspects' alleged confessions and footage showing hundreds of charred fragments of bone and teeth fished from the river where the bodies were dumped was played during the news conference.

Mr Murillo said it would be very difficult to extract DNA to confirm that they are the remains of the students who went missing six weeks ago after clashing with police in Iguala in the southern state of Guerrero.

The government would continue to view the students as missing until their identities are confirmed, he added.

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Gallery: Public Anger Continues Over Lack Of News On Students' Fate

Protests have continued over the fate of 43 missing students despite the news three suspects claim to have killed them on behalf of a drug gang

The students, from a teaching college, went missing after a protest in Guerrero state

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"I know the enormous pain the information we've obtained causes the family members, a pain we all share," Mr Murillo said.

Testimony from investigators suggests that the students, from an all-male leftist college, had clashed with the mayor of Iguala and that the city police had handed them over to a local drugs gang who murdered them.

This week, police arrested the former mayor and his wife, who the government suspects of being the probable masterminds of the abductions.

The kidnappings triggered mass protests across the country and have been the toughest challenge yet to President Enrique Pena Nieto, who vowed to restore order in Mexico after taking office two years ago.

Video: Mexicans March For Missing Students

Since 2007 around 100,000 people have died in violence linked to organised crime.

President Nieto said the findings had "shocked and offended" Mexico and pledged to round up everyone involved.

"The investigations will be carried out to the full, all those responsible will be punished under the law," he said.

Dozens of police are among 74 people held in the case.

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Gallery: Protest Blaze Over Mexico Massacre

A firefighter uses a hose to put out a blaze in Chilpancingo City Hall after it was set on fire by demonstrators, in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero

The demonstrators are demanding the government find 43 college students, missing since last month's deadly clashes

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The case has forced Mr Nieto to cut short a planned visit to China next week.

Angry relatives of the missing students accused the government of announcing the suspects' confession to clear the path for the president to leave for his trip.

"Pena Nieto should think hard about his trip," said Felipe de la Cruz, father of one of the missing students.

"As long as there is no proof, our children are alive."

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