MEXICO CITY, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors in 21 of Mexico's 31 states and federal districts resigned en masse, but the country's top prosecutor didn't offer a reason for the exodus.
Unclear was whether the 21 senior federal prosecutors were being forced out or were quitting in rebellion over Attorney General Marisela Morales and her administration, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
The resignations came amid a purge of the agency launched by Morales, who took office in April. A member of Morales' office said the resignations were tendered Friday.
"The purge is fundamental within the [attorney general's office] to give citizens the results they legitimately demand," Morales said in a statement. "The Mexico of today requires that those of us in public office act with total dedication and responsibility of service."
The office announced in July that during the first 100 days Morales was on the job, 462 prosecutors and other officials were dismissed and 111 court officials faced criminal charges on charges ranging from fraud, and theft to abuse of power and falsification of documents. Another 386 employees were in the process of being dismissed.
