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Protesters in Mexico slam German weapons supplier in missing students case

Associated Press
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The relatives of 43 missing college students hold posters of their missing loved ones as they protest outside Germany's embassy in Mexico City, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Demonstrators say German arms manufacturers exported rifles to a corrupt local police department in Iguala, Mexico who are implicated in the disappearance of 43 students. The police are accused of detaining the students and turning them over to a drug gang, which apparently killed them. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) (The Associated Press)

The relatives of 43 missing college students hold posters of their missing loved ones during a protest outside Germany's embassy in Mexico City, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Demonstrators say German arms manufacturers exported rifles to a corrupt local police department implicated in the disappearance of 43 students. The police of Iguala, Mexico are accused of detaining the students on Sept. 26 and turning them over to a drug gang, which apparently killed them. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) (The Associated Press)

The relatives of 43 missing college students hold posters of their missing loved ones as they demonstrate outside Germany's embassy in Mexico City, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Demonstrators say German arms manufacturers exported rifles to a corrupt local police department implicated in the disappearance of 43 students. The police in Iguala, Mexico are accused of detaining the students and turning them over to a drug gang, which apparently killed them. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) (The Associated Press)

Protesters in Mexico claim that German arms manufacturers exported rifles to a corrupt local police department implicated in the disappearance of 43 students.

About 100 demonstrators gathered outside the German embassy in Mexico City on Thursday to denounce what they said is the use of German-made G36 assault rifles by police in southern Guerrero state. The police are accused of detaining the students and turning them over to a drug gang, which apparently killed them.

Protest leader Felipe de la Cruz said Germany should prevent such sales.

Germany's government told weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in 2010 to cease all arms deliveries to Mexico amid concerns the guns were ending up in parts of the country where Berlin has forbidden weapons exports over human rights issues.

At the time, the company denied any wrongdoing.