16 dead bodies found in northern Mexico--army

MEXICO CITY--At least 16 more dead bodies have been found over the past two days in various parts of Tamaulipas state in northern Mexico, the defense ministry announced late Sunday.

The gruesome find brought to 88 the number of bodies found in the country in the past week.

According to the announcement, the bodies were unearthed from four common graves around the community of San Fernando.

Seven major drug gangs are operating in Mexico and their bloody clashes with each other and the authorities have left over 34,600 people dead since December 2006.

In addition, the Human Rights Commission said more than 5,000 people have been reported missing in Mexico, and many are presumed to be victims of the drug violence.

President Felipe Calderon launched a military crackdown against the drug gangs in 2006 but has so far failed to stem the violence. (report from Agence France-Presse)