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Murders in El Salvador reach levels seen in civil war; double last year

More than 4,000 people died this year, whereas 75,000 died during the 12-year Salvadorean Civil War.

By Andrew V. Pestano

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Violence in El Salvador killed 907 people in August, a number bordering on the levels of death the country experienced during the Salvadorean Civil War in the 1980s.

El Salvador has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, largely caused by the warring Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs.

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There are more than 70,000 gang members in the Central American country. Murder counts are rising due to an increase in clashes between the rival gangs and the government security forces who are attempting to contain the crisis.

National Police Chief Mauricio Ramirez said 47 police officers and 16 soldiers have been killed so far this year, many while off duty.

Murders have fluctuated monthly in El Savador this year, but are still significantly higher than last year -- almost double. The first significant murder spike in the country was in March with 484 murders, whereas in April there were 66. In May, there were up to 635 murders.

In 2012, a truce between the Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs led to a 40 percent decrease in the murder rate. The truce has since deteriorated, leading to 4,232 murders so far this year compared to 2,533 within the same period last year.

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Gang leaders are calling on the government to mediate efforts for another truce, but the government refuses to negotiate a peace deal, stating it would expose the government to excessive demands from gangs.

President Salvador Sanchez Ceren called in 7,000 army troops to help police patrol through the country, but the move has been criticized for failing to reduce the violence.

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of El Salvador ruled in late August -- the year's bloodiest month -- that criminal gangs within the country will be considered terrorist groups.

El Salvador's most notorious gangs, Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, and Barrio 18, as well as any other criminal organizations that threaten or frighten the country's people are terrorists because of their "systematic attacks to life, security and personal integrity of the population," according to El Salvador's Constitutional Chamber.

About 75,000 people died during the Salvadorean Civil War from 1980 to 1992. El Salvador has a population of more than 6 million people.

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