Mexican Mayor Alejandro Arcos assassinated days after taking office

The mayor of a Mexican city has been assassinated just days after taking office, officials say.

Alejandro Arcos was sworn in as mayor of Chilpancingo last Monday southwestern city which is the capital of the state of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located.

The area has long been plagued by drug violence and criminal gangs.

According to unverified reports, Mr Arcos had been beheaded. Police have not confirmed details of his death, but were photographed at a site in Chilpancingo where the body was reportedly found.

“His loss is mourning for all of Guerrero society and fills us with outrage,” Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said in a statement.

The attorney general’s office has said it is investigating Sunday’s killing.

The latest violence occurred just three days after the city government’s new secretary, Francisco Tapia, was shot dead.

Alejandro Moreno, a Mexican senator and the national leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, said: “They had been in office for less than a week.

“They were young and honest public servants who were looking for progress for their community.”

He also called on the federal attorney general’s office to lead the investigation into the killings, given “the situation of ungovernability in Guerrero.”

The state has become one of the most dangerous in Mexico for ambitious and elected officials.

At least six candidates for public office were murdered in Guerrero in early June ahead of the elections.

Last year, officials said a demonstration of hundreds of people in Chilpancingo was organized by criminals to secure the release of two gang leaders arrested for drug and gun possession.

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The demonstrators blocked most traffic on the road between Mexico City and Acapulco for two days.

They fought with security officials before using a police truck to ram the gates of the state legislature.

A number of police, state and federal officials were subsequently taken hostage – before being released when the protesters’ demands were met.