Salvadoran gangs extend truce

Rival gang leaders stage a news conference in a Salvadoran prison.

They are promising to expand a truce to help the country cope with a tide of violent crime threatening to sweep the nation.

The détente will prevent gangs from clashing at schools.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GANG MEMBER VICTOR CERON, SAYING:

"With this proposition we confirm our commitment to contributing to a pacification of El Salvador, we have considered a second gesture of good will which declares all school areas of the country, public and private, as areas of peace. These (areas) are not considered zones of territorial disputes."

The announcement adds to an earlier truce, brokered with help from the Catholic Church in March, which has been instrumental in reducing violent crime in the tiny Central American country.

This gang member said his people are under orders not to attack or kill rivals and asked that others follow his example.

Much of El Salvador's rising crime and high murder rate is related to gang violence.

This prompted gangs to enter a period of "reflection" last year and laid the foundations of the March treaty that represents the interests of around 100,000 members.

Jessica Gray, Reuters