GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Members of Guatemala’ s two largest gangs — Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha — staged riots in two Guatemalan prisons on Tuesday, demanding the return of 10 leaders who were sent to other prisons and placed in solitary confinement.

Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez told The Associated Press that the gang members are holding at least six guards — one of whom was shot — hostage in two prisons in Guatemala City.

According to Jiménez, the rioters were demanding Guatemalan authorities return their leaders from the prison where they were transferred, Renovación I, to the prisons where they were able to lead the gangs and “exercised criminal power.”

“The Guatemalan state will not bow down to you,” Jiménez posted on his official social media account.

The transfer of the g

See Full Page