El Salvador hosts Miss Universe as protesters denounce mass arrests

Police officers stand guard at a protest to demand help for the release of people detained during the state of emergency decreed by the government to curb gang violence, ahead of the Miss Universe gala to be held in San Salvador, El Salvador November 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - At least 300 people protested in El Salvador on Saturday against an anti-gang crackdown they said was putting innocent people behind bars, hours before the Central American country hosts the Miss Universe competition for the first time since 1975.

Some constitutional guarantees have been suspended since March 2022 in a controversial state of exception championed by President Nayib Bukele. The move has enabled state security forces to arrest more than 70,000 alleged gang members.