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24 September 2007

Miami (21 September 2007) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemns the killing of journalist Salvador Sánchez Roque in El Salvador and urges authorities to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation to identify those responsible.

Radio journalist Salvador Sánchez Roque, age 37, was killed on 20 September 2007, a few meters from his home in the city of Soyapango, to the east of the capital San Salvador, as he headed out in the morning to do some shopping. Unidentified individuals fired upon him repeatedly.

"We are worried by this act of violence, above all because it took place in a country where such attacks on journalists are infrequent. We mourn the loss of this life and we stand beside Sánchez’s family and colleagues; we also urge authorities to pursue this case until the guilty are apprehended," said Gonzalo Marroquín, chairman of the organization’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and editor of "Prensa Libre" newspaper.

According to local media, Sánchez was a correspondent of the radio station Radio Maya Visión and a collaborator of the stations Radio Mi Gente, Radio YSUCA and Radio Sonora in San Salvador. Although the motives for his killing are as yet unknown, the journalist’s mother affirms that her son told her a few days before that he had received threats.

The journalist reported on abuses committed by gangs, whose presence and methods of extortion are well known in the area.

For further information, contact Ricardo Trotti or Melba Jimenez at IAPA, Jules Dubois building, 1801 S.W. 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33129 United States, tel: +1 305 634 2465, fax: +1 305 635 2272, e-mail: info sipiapa.org, rtrotti sipiapa.org, mjimenez sipiapa.org, Internet: http://www.sipiapa.org