Two Police Officers Killed In El Salvador Protests
Hector Duarte Jr. - All Headline News Staff Reporter San Salvador, El Salvador (AHN) - Two police officers in El Salvador are dead after a clash with students during a protest over bus fares. The violence broke out after police launched tear gas into protesters in an attempt to subdue them. Reports from the scene say at least another ten officers were wounded. Demonstrators began vandalizing patrol cars and officers made about twenty arrests. According to press reports police did not confirm the number of student casualties but faculty member Herbert Rivas was reportedly shot and killed during a meeting in the school rectory. Police have been accused of firing on university buildings from a helicopter but police deny these claims. Students had convened at the university to protest against a rise in electricity and public transportation fees. In response to increasing global energy prices, the government recently decided to raise the price of bus tickets. TV images show officers with gashes to the heads and legs. President Tony Saca criticized the killings, laying blame on the opposition group, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front party (FMLN). This group engaged in a twelve-year civil war against the government before it became a legitimate political party in 1992. Saca said, "I have always said the FMLN has people disguised as protesters, who really are killers and dangerous people. |
