Bodies of 24 men found near Mexico City

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Twenty-four men whose bodies were found near Mexico City may have been casualties of a major drug dealers' turf war, authorities say.

Authorities said most of the bodies discovered Friday in La Marquesa park were adorned with clothing that led investigators to suspect they may have been from the Mexican states of Michoacan or Guerrero, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

State prosecutor's office spokesman Octavio Campos said an initial investigation indicated likely organized crime ties.

"The initial investigation indicates some of the people had been executed before arriving at the site while others were executed there," Campos said. "This may be a settling of scores between organized criminal bands."

If the bodies are linked to the ongoing drug war in Mexico, they would represent the largest single mass killing to date in the nearly two-year conflict.

The Times said figures indicate so far this year 3,148 people have been killed in the country in drug-related violence.