Spanish tourists raped in Mexico

In one of the worst cases of sexual violence against tourists in Mexico in recent years, seven tourists have been raped near the resort of Acapulco.

Several armed masked men entered the rooms in which the six Spanish women and one Mexican were sleeping and attacked them, police said.

The tourists had been staying in small shacks on Playa Bonfil.

Police quickly sealed off the scene following the attack which happened in the early hours on Monday, south of Acapulco.

Local media reported that several other people in the same group had been tied up and gagged while the attack took place.

After the ordeal the women went to the nearest police station accompanied by local tourism officials.

Violence is common in the state of Guerrero, our correspondent says, although Acapulco and its surrounding beaches are generally thought to be safe.

However, several powerful drug cartels operate in the mountains of the state, particularly the Familia Michoacana and their rivals, los Caballeros Templarios.

There are also numerous criminal gangs involved in lower level drug trafficking and violence.