President of El Salvador seeks emergency powers over spike in gang killings

El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Saturday urged lawmakers to declare a state of emergency after authorities arrested dozens of gang members over a recent wave of bloodshed, Report informs, citing foreign media.

Gang violence has soared in El Salvador in recent days, with more than 20 killings registered since Friday night, government human rights lawyer Ricardo Martinez reported, while other public security sources said up to 30 homicides may have taken place.

Police and the military on Saturday arrested several leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang over the deaths.

In response Bukele asked Congress -- controlled by his ruling party -- to meet to declare a state of emergency, under which certain freedoms are curtailed.

The Salvadoran constitution says that a state of emergency can be put into place "in cases of war, invasion of territory, rebellion, sedition, catastrophe, epidemic or other general calamity, or serious disturbances of public order."