In Mexico, drug war deaths mount

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Human rights groups say the war on drugs in Mexico has gone badly awry with soldiers covering up atrocities that have included civilian deaths.

The defense ministry says it still looking into the case of the Almanza family, in which eight adults and five children were driving to the beach on April 3, a drive that ended with soldiers opening fire on the vehicle, leaving two small children dead, The Arizona Republic reported Sunday.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have demanded the case be turned over to civilian authorities. Mexico's National Human Rights Commission has already issued a scathing 1,400-page report accusing soldiers of "manipulations to misdirect the investigations," to avoid blame in the affair.