1. GV PAN Bombed cars and trucks smoulder at roadside 0.13
2. GVs Guerrillas survey wreckage of burnt out buses (3 shots) 0.26
3. SVs Guerrillas at roadside (2 shots) 0.30
4. GV PAN Burnt vehicles scattered on road (7 shots) 1.09
5. GV Ambulance. PAN TO residents stands over body with blood-covered sheet. 1.30
InitialsCC/BB


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Background: ESTANZUELAC, USULUTAN PROVINCE, EL SALVADOR

Anti-government guerrilla have continued their campaign of attacks to avenge the recent murder in Managua of the rebel leader. Melida Anaya Montes, popularly known as Commandant Ana Maria. A small group of 200 guerrillas attacked the town of Estanzuelas, 110 kilometers (60 miles) from San Salvador, on April 14, killing six militiamen and injuring two others. They also burned several trucks and buses. During the seven hours they occupied the village, rebels destroyed the militia post, occupied nearby stretch of the Pan-American highway, the country's main north-south artery, burning cars vehicles. They also took three hostages and left a bloody reminder of their visit -- a dead body lying in the street, partly covered by a blood-stained sheet. Rebels have also carried out attacks on economic targets in the capital, dynamiting power pylons and cutting electricity to two of the city's suburbs for several hours. In the relatively unaffected second city of Santa Ana, almost two dozen buses were destroyed and government offices bombed, although there were no reports of any casualties. Government trucks were ambushed on the road to Suchitito 45 kilometers (27 miles) north of San Salvador, and were attacked in the town of Palo Grande, said the insurgent mouthpiece, Radio Vencemeros. In response, 5,000 government troops, backed up by five helicopters, eight aircraft and artillery bombardments, launched an offensive in northern Chalatenango province near the country's two largest hydro-electric dams. A recent study by United States embassy officials said that guerrilla attacks on economic targets had cause damage totalling over 100 million dollars to the country's fragile infrastructure.

Source: REUSTERS - ERICO ZAS CANO