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El Salvador rings off entire region to hem in gangs


Soldiers and police in El Salvador have surrounded the entire central Cabanas department as part of President Nayib Bukele's ongoing war against gangs.


"Since this morning, 7,000 soldiers and 1,000 police officers have established a security fence," Mr Bukele posted.


The aim is to stop gang members leaving and to break their supply chains.


More than 70,000 suspected members have been arrested since March 2022, when a state of emergency was declared after a spike in gang-related murders.

The impoverished Central American nation is seen as one of the most dangerous countries in the world.


Thousands of people with no discernible link to gang activity have also been swept up in the dragnet of arrests.


There are also concerns about a recent move by the country's lawmakers to allow mass trials.

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