President supports gang truce

TEGUCIGALPA (AP):

President Porfirio Lobo said yesterday that he is backing efforts to arrange a truce between the country's two largest and most violent gangs.

Lobo told The Associated Press that he has called Roman Catholic Bishop Romulo Emiliani of San Pedro Sula to offer his support in bringing peace to Honduras, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the world.

The bishop has been acting as a mediator between the Mara Salavatrucha and 18th Street gangs. He said last week he expects the gangs to sign a truce today and ask for talks with the government to help them start leaving their gang lifestyle.

"We have to look for anything that's an alternative to violence, and on the part of the government, we are open to any process that can lower violence," Lobo said in the interview.

FAITH IN INITIATIVE

Lobo said he is putting himself at Emiliani's disposal "to do whatever is necessary," adding that he has faith in the bishop's initiative.

Emiliani said last week when announcing the truce that the gangs need government help to stop charging protection fees to finance their war with each other and that authorities should try to turn Honduras' prisons into rehabilitation centres. The gangs are also expected to issue a public apology.