MEXICO DISCLOSES CLUES, HOPING TO IDENTIFY BODIES IN MASS GRAVE

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican authorities offered clues to the identity of
suspected drug-war victims whose remains were found in a mass grave
near the U.S. border, but they said no more bodies had been unearthed.

"Work to find human remains in two of four premises identified was
suspended on Sunday and will resume work on Monday. No more bones have
been found," the Mexican Attorney General's office said.

About 65 FBI forensics experts have been helping 600 Mexican police
and soldiers since last week in excavating graves near Juarez, a
border town near El Paso. Investigators are searching for the remains
of up to 100 missing people.

The six bodies found so far were those of clothed men age 35 to 50,
one of whom was shot in the head. The others were probably suffocated,
authorities said.

All were found with pieces of silver-colored adhesive tape, while four
had their mouths and noses covered by bandages. One had been tied at
the legs and arms.

Items found with the remains included a white handkerchief with the
monogram P, a yellow metal chain with a broach bearing the inscription
"10 K", and three separate forms of identity for one person.

Attorney General Jorge Madrazo said he began investigating the
disappearances in mid-1997 and it had taken until now to gather
sufficient information to begin a search.

Meanwhile, Mexico's Reforma newspaper said local businesses,
particularly restaurants, had lost up to 30 percent of their income as
a result of the exhumations.