MEXICO CITY : A group of armed men on Friday tried to kidnap three women who were part of a migrants' caravan heading to participate in a march for peace in Mexico City, El Universal newspaper reported.

The group of armed men prevented organizers and immigrants from boarding the train near the city of Orizaba in the state of Veracruz. The caravan was trying to get to Mexico City, where they will join the protest led by Mexican poet Javier Sicilia.

The poet and writer asked for help and called on human rights authorities to meet with the caravan to verify the state of the group since they have not been in contact.

Sicilia and hundred of people left the town of Cuernavaca on Thursday and headed for Mexico City, around 90 kilometres away (56 miles), to protest the increasing violence in the country. They plan to arrive Sunday at the central Zocalo square in Mexico City.

In early April, thousands of people participated in marches in 24 states to repudiate the government's anti-crime strategy and the increasing violence in the country. The protests were led by Sicilia, who demanded justice for the murder of his son.

According to government figures, a total of 15,273 drug-related crimes occurred in Mexico in 2010. More than 30,000 people have died in drug-related violence since Mexican President Felipe Calderón began the fight against organized crime in December 2006. (BNO News)

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