Thousands march in Mexico to protest crime and kidnapping

HUNDREDS of thousands of people have held a rally in Mexico City to protest against kidnappings and violent crime.

Demonstrators marched silently through the centre of the capital as they also paid tribute to crime victims.

Kidnappings are rife in the city and many abductions go unreported because of a lack of faith in the justice system, correspondents say.

Mexico has the second- highest number of kidnappings in the world, with some 3,000 reported cases last year.

The non-political march hailed as the largest in the capital's history was called by more than 80 non-governmental groups and organisations.

Most of the people wore white clothes, responding to organisers' calls before the rally.

Participants filled the capital's central square and adjacent streets.

Instead of chanting, many demonstrators shared stories of how they had been victims of violent crime.

They later pinned black ribbons to their white clothes in memory of crime victims.

"We have all been kidnapped by fear," Clementina Gonzalez, one of the marchers, said.

"We cannot leave our houses. Our children cannot play in the street.

"If that's not kidnapping, what is?" the 60-year-old housewife added.

Shortly before the rally, Mexican President Vicente Fox urged congress to approve his reforms of the country's archaic and inefficient justice system.