Honduran Gangs 'Salvatrucha' And '18 Street' Declare Truce In Effort To Reduce Violence

Two notoriously violent gangs in Honduras, "Salvatrucha" and "18 Street," have agreed to a truce that will end violence and bloodshed between the two groups. According to the BBC, the war between the two gangs claimed tens of thousands of lives.

ABC News reports that the truce came on Tuesday. Members of the gang are looking to meet with the government and work out an agreement. They will stop the violence in exchange for rehabilitation and employment.

Members of both Honduran gangs held news conferences from their prison cells agreeing to the truce. One gang member from "Mara Salvatrucha" said that God is one reason for the truce.

"Our truce is with God, society and authorities. We ask society and authorities to forgive us for the damage we have done," a member of "Salvatrucha" identified as Marco said.

Later a member of rival gang "18 Street" also told the media that his organization is ready for a truce and hopes the government will listen.

The same two gangs operating in El Salvador have come to a truce there as well. The BBC reports,

"The peace agreement there has roughly held together and, the authorities say, has contributed to a significant reduction in the murder rate and incidences of other violent crimes."

The Honduran truce has been in the works for the past eight months and has been mediated by a Roman Catholic Bishop from San Pedro Sula.

The President of Honduras came out in support of the gang true on Monday, channel4.com reports. The president said, "We have to look for anything that's an alternative to violence."