MEXICO CITY, Dec. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- The Mexican government shut down 390 Internet sites that distributed child-pornography in 2003, the local daily El Universal reported on Tuesday.

    The authorities managed to capture 20 people suspected of distributing illicit material that promoted sex tourism and trafficking of minors through the Internet, the daily said. Of the 390 sites, 197 were created in Mexico City.

    During investigations, seven websites that promoted cyber-terrorism were also discovered, the daily added.

    A recent study, made by the Department of Family Development and the UN Children's Fund, showed that there have been 16,000 cases of child prostitution in Mexico during the last nine months.

    At least 10 million minors are suffering sexual abuse or forcedto commit prostitution every year around the world, in a criminal business that yields 7 billion US dollars, according to Latin American experts who met in Mexico in August. Enditem