El Salvador tougher penalties for gang affiliation

El Salvador's Congress increased sentences for crimes committed by gang memberson Wednesday, expanding on a state of emergency lawmakers granted last weekend as President NayibBukele pursues the country's powerful street gangs.

The changes to El Salvador's penal code passed with 76 votes out of the 84 lawmakers.The vote came a day after El Salvador experienced its first day without killings since the state of emergency was imposed following a wave of 87 killings over the weekend.Authorities have blamed the killings on gang members.By Wednesday, security forces arrested more than 2,000 suspected gang members, who were taken to temporary detention centers.Under the new measures, detainees will now spend up to two weeks without a sentence in such temporary cells.