TORREON: The number of bodies recovered after a month-long search of hidden graves in the northern city of Durango has rise to 180, including 12 women, a Mexican official said Tuesday.
The bodies were recovered from five graves, Juan Rosales, deputy secretary of Public Security in Durango state, told AFP.
Officials previously reported 168 bodies found in a series of excavations since April 11.
Rosales said forensic evidence showed the victims had been killed between four years ago and early 2011. He declined to comment on suspects in the crimes or the identity of the victims.
Last month, authorities recovered 183 bodies from 40 mass graves in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas on the US border.
They have made no link between the two sets of discoveries, which come amid a wave of drug-related violence in parts of the country.
The hidden graves provoked more criticism of the government of President Felipe Calderon and its failure to stem the bloodshed, amid a clampdown on organized crime involving tens of thousands of troops.
More than 85,000 people took part in a silent protest in Mexico City's main square Sunday to protest violence that has left some 37,000 people dead since 2006, according to media estimates.
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