Guatemala candidate's teen daughter killed in pre-election violence

[Judi Lynn]

Source: International Herald Tribune/Associated Press

Guatemala candidate's teen daughter killed in pre-election violence
The Associated Press
Published: August 22, 2007


GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala: The teenage daughter of a congressional candidate was found murdered in Guatemala, which has been hit by a wave of election violence ahead of a September vote.

Prosecutor Alvaro Matus said Wednesday that police discovered the body of 14-year-old Maria Cristina Montenegro, her throat slit, in the trunk of an abandoned car on Tuesday.

Her father, Hector Montenegro, is running for congress with the National Unity of Hope party. He called the killing a political attack and vowed not to abandon the race.

"I feel devastated, sad, but this will not rob my energy to keep working for the people," Montenegro said.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/23/america/LA-GEN-Guatemala-Election-Violence.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. Guatemala Elections Riddled with Violence

Guatemala Elections Riddled with Violence

Guatemala, Aug 22 (Prensa Latina) Alvaro Colom, Guatemalan Presidential candidate for Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza (UNE) denounced the flaring violence affecting the country.

Colom urged a probe for the slain of 14-year-old Marta Cristina Montenegro, daughter of UNE legislative candidate Hector Montenegro, president of the Association of Senior Citizens.

Marta's death, strangulated, rose to 20 the list of UNE slain militants, activists or relatives, being this party the hardest hit in the on going general election race.

Guatemala ranks as one of the most violent countries in the continent with more than 5,000 deaths a year and a rate of 16 daily murders.

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[greenman3610]

2. my first thought was, how far away are we from this here? eom