Mexicans take to the streets to protest a spate of murders and kidnappings

Only last week a dozen headless bodies were found in the Yucatan Peninsula, home to Mexico's most popular beach resort, Cancun.

Murders have surged as drug cartels battle for control of trafficking routes and stage vicious attacks against police nearly every day.

Protest: People hold candles at Zocalo square in Mexico City on Sunday - more than 150,000 Mexicans dressed in white marched over the weekend=

A sea of 100,000 white-clad demonstrators filled Mexico City's Zocalo square, while tens of thousands overflowed into the surrounding streets.

Thousands more protested in other cities.

On Sunday President Felipe Calderon has announced a crackdown on drug crime, but there has been little improvement on the ground.

'The federal government renews its commitment with its citizens and precisely will step up efforts to eradicate this evil,' Calderon said in a nationally broadcast speech.

'It is urgent that all authorities and all people do their corresponding part to rid Mexico of crime,' he said, without offering specifics.

Marching on: More than 13 anti-crime groups planned marches in all 32 Mexican states, urging people to walk in silence with candles or lanterns

More than 2,300 people have been killed in drug murders this year despite Calderon's battle against gangs. He has sent 25,000 troops and federal police against cartels since taking office in December 2006, but killings have increased.

Long-used to violent crime, Mexicans were outraged by the kidnapping and murder of Fernando Marti, 14, whose body was found in a car trunk in Mexico City on Aug. 1, even though his businessman father had paid a ransom.

Mexico is one of the worst countries in the world for abductions, along with conflict zones like Iraq and Colombia.

Calderon, Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard and state governors held an emergency crime summit last week and vowed to stamp out abductions and violent crime.

But the huge march put more pressure on Calderon for results. March organizers met with the president on Sunday to put forward their crime-busting proposals.

Night-time vigil: Demonstrators light candles as part of the protest, calling on the Mexican Government to do more to fight the kidnappings and killings

'Together, society and government, we can put an end to this cancer that damages and hurts our Mexico,' Calderon said after the meeting.