Police in Mexico say they have arrested the fugitive mayor of the town of Iguala, where 43 students went missing in September.
Forrmer Iguala mayor Jose Luis Abarca and his wife Maria de Los Angeles Pineda. Photo: AFP
Jose Luis Abarca was detained by federal police officers in the capital, Mexico City, a police spokesman said.
Mexican officials have accused Mr Abarca of ordering police to confront the students on the day of their disappearance on 26 September, the BBC reported.
Eyewitnesses described seeing them being bundled into police cars.
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Federal police spokesman Jose Ramon Salinas confirmed the arrest of Mr Abarca and his wife Maria de los Angeles Pineda on Twitter.
Mexican officials had issued an arrest warrant for Mr Abarca and Ms Pineda after Iguala police officers said they had received an order from the mayor to intercept the students.
Police patrol outside the building where Jose Luis Abarca and his wife Maria de Los Angeles Pineda are detained. Photo: AFP
The officers said they had been told to stop the students from interrupting a speech given by Ms Pineda in Iguala on that day.