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GV: Monsignor Ricardo Urioste speaking in Spanish at news conference.
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Monsignor Ricardo Urioste who has been responsible for the San Salvador Archbishopric since the murder of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero has said he will resign as action Archbishop. Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday (8 April) Monsignor Urioste said his resignation was intended to avoid all possibility of influencing the selection of a permanent replacement for Oscar Romero. archbishop Romero was shot dead as he prepared to say mass on March 24.

SYNOPSIS: In his statement to newsmen, Monsignor Urioste appealed to all political factions to end the violence that was tearing the nation apart. He pledged his own continued and unstinting efforts to bring peace to San Salvador and to work for the poor and oppressed. The Monsignor affirmed that the role of the church was neither to fight against anyone, nor to join forces with any political group. He said ultimately the Church's task lay in service to God and to the people.

Monsignor Urioste proposed the Church should act as a channel of communication between opposing sides in the political conflict. By those means all parties could create a dialogue aimed at saving the nation from further bloodshed.