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Florencio Osuna, 50; Spoke at 1968 Protest That Led to Massacre

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Florencio Lopez Osuna, 50, the main speaker during a 1968 pre-Olympics student demonstration in which Mexican soldiers fatally shot an undetermined number of people, was found dead Friday in a Mexico City hotel room.

The cause of death was believed to be a heart attack, although officials have not yet ruled out homicide.

Osuna had largely disappeared from the public eye following what became known as the Tlatelolco massacre, after the Mexico City plaza where it occurred. He worked as a teacher for several years.

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However, he returned to the spotlight earlier this month when a Mexican news magazine published previously unreleased photos of the massacre scene, in which Osuna was shown beaten and bloodied in the custody of government agents.

The government claimed about 24 died, but most historians say 300 students were killed, caught in a cross-fire while police and troops blocked the exits.

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