Mexico City police chief resigns amid protests over missing students

Mexico City, Dec 7 (IANS/EFE) Mexico City's police chief, Jesus Rodriguez Almeida, under fire for the police response to the protests over the disappearance of 43 trainee teachers, has resigned, media reported Saturday.

Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Macera announced the decision in a brief message to the media Friday.

Almeida's departure from office must receive the approval of President Enrique Pena Nieto, in accordance with the country's constitution.

Forty-three students from the Ayotzinapa Normal School, a teacher's college, went missing in Iguala, in the state of Guerrero, Sep 26.

According to official reports, they had travelled to Iguala to protest against what they considered to be discriminatory hiring and funding practices by the Mexican government.

They were however, intercepted by the police and a confrontation ensued.

Details of what happened during and after the clash remain unclear, but the official investigation concluded that once the students were in custody, they were handed over to the local Guerreros Unidos ("United Warriors") crime syndicate and presumably killed.

The parents of the missing students have however, refused to accept that explanation without solid proof.

During protests over the students' disappearance, self-proclaimed anarchist groups have carried out isolated acts of violence in the capital targeting commercial establishments and government buildings, including the National Palace.

In recent weeks, Almeida had been criticised for the handling of the protests in the capital by the police.

--IANS/EFE

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