Guatemala Under Violence and Insecurity
Guatemala lived under the influence of violence and insecurity last week and police operations to take over the towns control, that were in the power of criminals.

Public transportation was attacked and several areas of the capital were deprived of this service after a driver and his assistant were shot in one of the capital s most populated avenue.

Over 65 workers were killed along this year after refusing to pay the operation tax demanded by gangs, noted representatives of this sector.

Guatemalan President Oscar Berger and the Vice President Eduardo Stein assured that drivers" assassination have a political motive.

Those attacks were not only perpetrated by common delinquents but there are political sectors interested in creating instability to benefit some candidates, emphasized the leaders.

The Government minister denied having evidence of any party"s participation in those crimes.

In an attempt to stop delinquency the authorities began a large-scale operation to recover areas of the cities, close municipalities, which were until now, in the hands of youth gangs, those called here "Maras." On Friday, about 100 members of the police and army combined-forces developed 40 raids and arrested 26 persons for drug and arms possession.

"This is the first large-scale operation to face the increasing violence and insecurity that have become a scourge for the Guatemalan society," noted the government minister.