Bodies found in hunt for two suspects

Canadian police have found what they believe to be the bodies of two teenagers suspected of three murders.

Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, have been on the run since late July when three bodies, including those of an Australian-US couple, were found in northern British Columbia.

The teenagers were later seen 3,300km (2,050 miles) to the east, in Manitoba, where police concentrated their search.

The two bodies were found near the town of Gillam on Wednesday.

"Hopefully this will help the families of the victims achieve a sense of closure," said federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police assistant commissioner Jane MacLatchy told media on Wednesday: "I'm confident it is them but to identify them officially and to be sure we have to go to autopsy."

Police say a motive for the murders is still unknown.

The manhunt has kept Gillam, a community of about 1,300 people, on edge for weeks.

"It's huge to be able to hopefully give people an opportunity to exhale, and to hopefully eventually go back to normal, to not be afraid of who's out in the woods anymore," Ms MacLatchy said.