The American embassy in Mexico has advised U.S. citizens to avoid Acapulco, a Pacific coastal resort once known for hosting glamorous jet-setters but which has lately been rocked by unrest and violence. The embassy also warned about "protests and violent incidents" that hit Guerrero, the state the city is in, after the disappearance of 43 students there in late September. "Embassy personnel have been instructed to defer non-essential travel to Acapulco, by air or land," according to a statement issued Friday. "The Embassy cautions U.S. citizens to follow the same guidelines."
The advisory is a blow to a resort once favored by Hollywood stars, and adds pressure on the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto, which has been struggling to defuse nationwide outrage unleashed by the students' disappearances. Demonstrators have blocked highways to Acapulco, hijacked buses and blockaded the city's airport, demanding the government find the missing students. Prosecutors say local police working for a drug gang probably turned the students over to gang members, who may have killed them and burned their bodies.
IN-DEPTH
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