Bodies found in cave, hearts cut out

Police discovered six dead bodies in a cave near the tourist resort of Cancun in Mexico today, three of them cut open and their hearts removed.

Authorities were investigating the identities of the four men and two women found dead in the natural cave, said Francisco Alor, the Quintana Roo state attorney-general.

"They were apparently tortured and their chests were opened to remove the hearts," Mr Alor's office said later in a statement.

Three of the bodies had the letter "Z" carved on their abdomens - a possible reference to the Zeta drug gang, though officials did not make an explicit connection to cartel violence that has plagued many parts of Mexico.

More than 22,700 people have died nationwide in drug violence since late 2006, when President Felipe Calderon sent soldiers and federal police to battle the cartels.