Mexican president prays with family of dead US dual citizens

 Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador prayed for the safety of the country with the relatives of nine US dual citizens slaughtered in northern Mexico last month and assured them "at least four" suspects have been detained, a family member said.

Julian LeBaron said that during the family’s Monday meeting with López Obrador and his Cabinet at Mexico City’s National Palace, the president pledged to visit the region where the Nov. 4 massacre took place, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

Mexican politicians traditionally avoid open displays of faith, and López Obrador has been unusual in recent comments referring to himself as a "follower of Jesus Christ."

"We just bowed our heads" and "prayed for the president and the country, for peace and goodwill, and to protect our loved ones, and protect our country," LeBaron said Tuesday.

The extended LeBaron family has lived in northern Mexico for decades and identify as part of the Mormon tradition though they are not affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. Dual nations, they were hotly criticized by some for asking US President Donald Trump to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, something Trump said he would do.