Mexico arrests six men over Acapulco rape of Spanish tourists

Six man have admitting raping six Spanish tourists in Acapulco, according to Mexican authorities.

The attorney general, Jesús Murillo Karam, said prosecutors were looking for a seventh suspect.

The six men gave a full account of the 4 February attacks, which took place in a beach house on the outskirts of Acapulco where 12 Spanish tourists and a Mexican woman had been staying, Murillo Karam said.

"We have those six suspects, who have confessed," he said. "I can tell you with all seriousness that this case has been solved."

Those arrested ranged in age from 16 to 30. Another eight were arrested in connection with a separate gang rape in November 2012.

When the detentions for the attack on the Spaniards were announced, family members of the suspects protested that they were innocent. About 40 people blocked the road to Acapulco's airport to demand their release.

Mexican human rights groups often question confessions announced by authorities, arguing they are sometimes extracted by force and have little value.

But the Guerrero state governor, Angel Aguirre, said authorities were carrying out the investigation professionally. "It was never intended to take scapegoats or innocent people to jail in a case as delicate as this one," he said. "We are working with a high degree of responsibility and with efficiency to erase this chapter in the history of our port of Acapulco."

(2013-02-14/guardian)