Attorney General Jesus Murillo said three new detainees admitted setting fire to the group, some of whom were still alive, in a rubbish dump near Iguala in the state of Guerrero, where the students went missing on Sept 26 after clashing with police. Dozens of police have also been arrested.

Mexico's government is still waiting for DNA confirmation from Argentine forensic anthropologists to confirm the identity of those killed.

Earlier this week, Mexican police captured a fugitive former mayor and his wife suspected of being the probable masterminds behind the abduction of the students.

* Photo of Attorney General . . .