Mexico mine blast arrests sought

Sixty-three of the bodies are still underground

A judge has ordered the arrest of five men over a mining accident that killed 65 people last year in northern Mexico.

The five work for Grupo Mexico, the country's biggest mining company. They are accused of safety failures at the coal mine, in the state of Coahuila.

The firm denies any wrongdoing, and has issued a statement saying it trusts Mexican justice and will co-operate.

Only two bodies have been recovered and miners' families have protested at what they see as the lack of legal action.

Toxic gas

Investigators believe there was a deadly mix of methane, heat and oxygen in the Pasta de Conchos mine at the time of the accident on 19 February 2006.

State prosecutors accuse managers of not fixing safety problems detected eight months before the blast.

Grupo Mexico says the mine met all safety standards.

Operations to recover the remaining 63 bodies have been hindered by toxic gas, but the company says it will continue to search for them.