4 headless bodies in Mexico said to be threat to kingpin who is US citizen

4 headless bodies were found hanging from a bridge near Mexico City, 8/22. The Reuters photo below shows the hanging bodies. A BBC version of the story included a Reuters photo apparently edited so no bodies could be seen, following. Photo from BBC article below: On the other hand, the BBC told us that a US citizen is vying to be the next Mexican drug kingpin. This point wasn't made quite as clearly in other versions of the story, for example AP only described him as "US born".

• 8/22, BBC: "A message had been left with their heads warning that anyone supporting Edgar Valdez would risk a similar fate.

Edgar Valdez is reportedly fighting Hector Beltran Leyva for

• control of the influential Beltran Leyva drug cartel....

Edgar Valdez, a US citizen known as Barbie for his blonde hair, is a leading contender to take over as the head of the gang."...

• The BBC notes this particular cartel is entrenched in among other things,

• transportation, hospitality, electronics, health products.

An AP/Washington Post version describes the drug kingpin Edgar Valdez Villarreal as

• "US born" but doesn't mention citizenship.

The Reuters version of the story gave more graphic details:

• 8/22: "The bodies of the four young men were discovered early on Sunday, hung upside down by their feet from a bridge

near a wealthy area of Cuernavaca, a leafy city about an hour outside Mexico City, where many of the nation's elite own homes.

• The victims' genitals, index fingers and heads had been cut off, ...

Their heads and genitals were found nearby, along with a handmade sign,"...

• The version of the story by AP in the Washington Post mentioned an American from Georgia had been found shot dead in a car in Mexico. The killing wasn't said to be related to that of the headless bodies.

AP, 8/22: "In western Mexico, police found the body of a U.S. citizen inside a car along the highway between the Pacific resorts of Acapulco and Zihuatanejo.

• A report from Guerrero state police said the man was shot to death and had identification indicating he was from Georgia.

The U.S. Embassy could not be reached to confirm the man's identity.

• Police said they had no suspects and had not determined a motive.",,,

"4 decapitated bodies hung from bridge in Mexico," AP story in Washington Post

• photos Reuters

P.S. A Mexican blog says of "Blondie" Edgar Valdez, mentioned above as a US citizen vying to be drug kingpin:

• "JOAQUIN WILL BE THE MOST POWERFUL NARCO EN MEXICO HISTORY?? EDGAR VALDEZ, is only a subordinate, is the most wanted - AND HEADS APA ...

YEAH, OUR GOVERNMENT IS BRIGHT.,, Y EN EL CALDERON Joto OVER STUPIDITY OF PRESIDENT WE'VE HAD.,.(google translation) January 11, 2010 19:47"

• 4/9/2007, "Mexican police have been slow to recognize the Internet as a font of clues, critics say, a mistake that has increased the ability of the cartels to work in the open."...
• Washington Post

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