Salvadoran president sends more soldiers to fight crime after standoff with lawmakers

Salvadoran President Bukele deployed hundreds of soldiers on Tuesday to fight gangs. It came days after facing criticism for barging into Congress with the army to pressure lawmakers over his security plan. The 1,400 soldiers will join about 8,600 already battling crime. In recent weeks, Bukele, who took office in June, has urged lawmakers to agree to a $109 million loan to help equip police and soldiers in the fight against crime in a nation racked by gang violence.

Bukele has faced criticism for his brief occupation of the National Assembly on Feb. 9, when he sat in the seat reserved for the president of Congress. El Salvador's murder rate has plunged since Bukele took office, but remains high. Salvadoran soldiers have worked in security since the 1990's.