Shooting in Salvador: 4 gang members killed

Unidentified gunmen shot to death four young men wearing gang-style clothing in El Salvador on Tuesday, in what police suspected was a dispute between the country's "Mara" street gangs. The attack occurred in the city of Soyapango, about 10 miles (15 kilometers) east of the capital, San Salvador. That city is the scene of heavy gang activity, police said.

The killings were apparently the product of a drive-by shooting. The attack came two days after the government announced a series of police sweeps aimed at areas of gang activity, in a country with thousands of estimated gang members.

Also Tuesday, in Nicaragua, the former first lady of neighboring Honduras, Aguas Ocana, said she was planning to work to rescue or rehabilitate Mara gang members. That, despite the fact the her former husband, former President Ricardo Maduro, championed the regional trend toward hardline policies against the gangs.

"I am fascinated by the issue of youthful offenders like the Maras, I like the challenge of changing their lives, so we are going to be working on that," said Ocana, who has announced plans to work with a non-profit organization.

Maduro, whose son was kidnapped and killed by criminals before he took office, divorced Ocana and left office on Jan. 27, reports the AP. I.L.