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Police arrest ex-mayor in hunt for missing students

Jose Luis Abarca and his wife nabbed on suspicion of ordering attacks on missing 43

Mexican federal police detained former mayor Jose Luis Abarca and his wife Maria de los Angeles Pineda today, on suspicion of ordering attacks on students in Iguala that left six dead and 43 missing.

Mr Abarca and Ms Pineda were arrested in Mexico City and placed in the custody of the Attorney General's Office, where they agreed to give statements.

At least 56 other people have already been arrested while Iguala police chief Felipe Florez remains a fugitive.

The case forced the resignation of the governor of Guerrero state, where Iguala is located.

The students from a rural teachers college had gone to Iguala to canvass for donations but, say the authorities, were attacked on the orders of Mr Abarca who thought that they intended to disrupt a speech by Ms Pineda.

They say that the assault was carried out by police working with the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel, of which Ms Pineda is a major operative.

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