in El Salvador, where its two largest street gangs – “Calle 18″ and “Mara Salvatrucha” – have reached an unprecedented truce that authorities say has cut the homicide rate in half in just four months.
The relentless tit-for-tat murders between the two gangs made El Salvador the most murderous in the world last year after neighbouring Honduras, also ravaged by gang violence.
The relentless tit-for-tat murders between the two gangs made El Salvador the most murderous in the world last year after neighbouring Honduras, also ravaged by gang violence.
2A gang member of MS13 is presented to the media in Soyapango. STRINGER/REUTERS
3Police officers are seen during a presentation of MS13 gang members in Soyapango.
4A policeman places handcuffs on a MS13 gang member after being presented to the media in Soyapango.
5Policeman places handcuffs on MS13 gang members after being presented to the media in Soyapango.
6Policemen escort gang members as they are presented to the media in Soyapango.
7Hooded gang members carry sacks with weapons to be handed over to authorities, as part of a truce between
gangs in San Salvador. STRINGER/REUTERS
8Army chaplain Colindres speaks next to Insulza, secretary general of the OAS, in front of weapons handed
over by gang members as part of a truce between gangs in San Salvador. STRINGER/REUTERS
9Inmate who is a gang member takes an improvised shower at a prison in Quezaltepeque.
10Gang members and inmates pose for a photograph at a prison in Quezaltepeque. STRINGER/REUTERS
11Lock with a number engraved hangs on a gate separating areas between female and male inmates at a prison
in Quetzaltepeque. STRINGER/REUTERS
12Star with a bible verse reading Lord, give me strength, Isaiah 41:13 is pinned on a needle in male inmates
area of a prison in Quezaltepeque. STRINGER/REUTERS
13Couple both gang members and inmates kiss during a religious service at a prison in Quezaltepeque.
14Gang member who is also an inmate flashes his gang's sign as he poses for a picture in a prison in
Quezaltepeque.
15Gang member who is also an inmate flashes his gang's sign as he poses for a picture in a prison in
Quezaltepeque.
16Gang member who is also an inmate stands inside a prison in Quezaltepeque. STRINGER/REUTERS
17Gang members who are also inmates boil water at a prison in Quezaltepeque. STRINGER/REUTERS
18Gang member gets a haircut from a fellow inmate at a prison in Quezaltepeque. STRINGER/REUTERS
19Gang member looks into a broken piece of mirror while getting a haircut by a fellow inmate at a prison in
Quezaltepeque. STRINGER/REUTERS
20Gang members who are also inmates pose for a photograph at a prison in Quezaltepeque.
21Gang member who is also an inmate holds a wooden cross he was given along with an image of the Virgin
Mary during a religious service at a prison in Quezaltepeque. STRINGER/REUTERS
22Couple both gang members and inmates share a moment during a religious service at a prison in
Quezaltepeque.
23Victor Garcia alias The Duck from Calle 18 gang sits with his wife and daughter during a religious service
at a prison in Quezaltepeque. STRINGER/REUTERS
24A member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang receives communion from a priest at the prison of Ciudad Barrios.
25A member of the Mara Salvatrucha listens to priest at the prison of Ciudad Barrios.
26Members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang gather together at the prison of Ciudad Barrios.
27A member of the 18th Street gang poses for a photo at the prison of Izalco. STRINGER /REUTERS
28Army Chaplain Colindres shakes hands with a member of the 18th Street gang during a mass at the prison
of Izalco. STRINGER /REUTERS
29Members of the 18th Street gang attend a mass at the prison of Izalco. STRINGER /REUTERS
30A member of the 18th Street gang attends a mass at the prison of Izalco. STRINGER /REUTERS
31Army Chaplain Colindres conducts a mass for members of the 18th Street gang at the prison of Izalco.
32A noticeboard with pictures of a portion of the 620 members of the 18th Street gang held at the prison
of Izalco is seen. STRINGER /REUTERS
33Members of the 18th Street gang attend a mass at the prison of Izalco. STRINGER /REUTERS
34Members of the gang Mara 18 stand in a prison in Izalco. STRINGER /REUTERS
35Inmates who are members of a gang, stand inside the jail in Quetzaltepeque. STRINGER /REUTERS
36Gang members walk inside the prison in Quetzaltepeque.
37A gang member and inmate stands behind the bars of a cell at the jail in Quetzaltepeque.
38A hooded police officer stands near gang members inside the jail in Quetzaltepeque.
39A gang member and inmate poses for a photograph inside the jail in Quetzaltepeque.
