Homicide rate down again in El Salvador but decline slows from 2012 after gangs signed truce
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Homicides in El Salvador decreased again this year, but not as deeply as they did in 2012 after warring street gangs signed a truce.
President Mauricio Funes says the Central American country has averaged 6.8 killings a day so far in 2013. That compares to 7.1 last year, which was a big drop from about 12 daily slayings in 2011, before the Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs signed a truce.
The rate had reached as high as 14 a day just before the truce. The two gangs have long fought turf battles as well as carrying out extortion, drug sales and other illicit activities.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Funes said Monday that official figures show the nation of 6 million people had 2,426 killings in 2013, 2,543 in 2012 and 4,354 in 2011.