A new group of migrants gathered and left from the capital of El Salvador on Sunday, headed for the United States after thousands of other Central Americans began similar journeys in recent weeks, angering US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

The group of more than 300 Salvadorans that left San Salvador on Sunday came together after thousands of Hondurans in mid-October left their country in a large group, becoming an international news story and a key issue in the US&nbsp;congressional elections.

A second group of Hondurans was moving through Guatemala last week, and at one point numbered more than 1,000 people before beginning to fragment.

Trump and his fellow Republicans have sought to make immigration a major issue before the Nov. 6 elections, in which the party is battling to keep control of Congress.

The Salvadoran migrants organized using social networks like Facebook and WhatsApp over the last couple of weeks, inspired by the group of mostly Hondurans currently crossing Mexico.

Salvadoran police traveled with the group on Sunday as they left San Salvador, the migrants carrying backpacks and water bottles and protecting themselves from the hot sun with hats. Some mothers pushed their children in strollers.

Several migrants, gathered by the capital's 'Savior of the World' statue before leaving, said they were headed to the United States.

"We're asking the all-powerful to look after us, to guide us, to free us from all that is bad," shouted Hernan Quinteros, 49, a driver who urged his fellow travelers to tie up their shoes ahead of the long trip.

El Salvador's left-wing government said it had solidarity with the migrants and respected their right to mobilize, but urged them not to risk their lives on the way.

A new group of migrants gathered and left from the capital of El Salvador on Sunday, headed for the United States after thousands of other Central Americans began similar journeys in recent weeks, angering US President Donald Trump.

A new group of migrants gathered and left from the capital of El Salvador on Sunday, headed for the United States after thousands of other Central Americans began similar journeys in recent weeks, angering US President Donald Trump. The group of more than 300 Salvadorans that left San Salvador on Sunday came together after thousands of Hondurans in mid-October left their country in a large group, becoming an international news story and a key issue in the US congressional elections. A second group of Hondurans was moving through Guatemala last week, and at one point numbered more than 1,000 people before beginning to fragment. Trump and his fellow Republicans have sought to make immigration a major issue before the Nov. 6 elections, in which the party is battling to keep control of Congress. The Salvadoran migrants organized using social networks like Facebook and WhatsApp over the last couple of weeks, inspired by the group of mostly Hondurans currently crossing Mexico. Salvadoran police traveled with the group on Sunday as they left San Salvador, the migrants carrying backpacks and water bottles and protecting themselves from the hot sun with hats. Some mothers pushed their children in strollers. Several migrants, gathered by the capital's 'Savior of the World' statue before leaving, said they were headed to the United States. "We're asking the all-powerful to look after us, to guide us, to free us from all that is bad," shouted Hernan Quinteros, 49, a driver who urged his fellow travelers to tie up their shoes ahead of the long trip. El Salvador's left-wing government said it had solidarity with the migrants and respected their right to mobilize, but urged them not to risk their lives on the way.

New US-bound group of migrants leaves San Salvador

President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Honduras he will cut millions of dollars in US aid if a group of about 2,000 migrants is not prevented from seeking to reach the United States.

The migrants, forming what is known as "a caravan," were hoping to leave the impoverished, violence-plagued country and head north on the long journey through Guatemala and Mexico to the US border.

Trump, who has made <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-central-america-will-help-with-your-development-if-you-cut-down-migration-170966">cracking down on illegal immigration a keystone</a> of his presidency, tweeted that US aid to Honduras, which is planned to reach nearly $66 million in 2019, would end.&nbsp;

"The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!" he said.

Despite the apparent urgency of Trump's message, the Honduran would-be migrants appeared highly unlikely to get anywhere near their goal after Guatemala announced it would stop them first.

"Entry of groups or people" without proper visas "will not be permitted," Guatemala's border authorities said in a statement.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Honduras he will cut millions of dollars in US aid if a group of about 2,000 migrants is not prevented from seeking to reach the United States.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Honduras he will cut millions of dollars in US aid if a group of about 2,000 migrants is not prevented from seeking to reach the United States. The migrants, forming what is known as "a caravan," were hoping to leave the impoverished, violence-plagued country and head north on the long journey through Guatemala and Mexico to the US border. Trump, who has made cracking down on illegal immigration a keystone of his presidency, tweeted that US aid to Honduras, which is planned to reach nearly $66 million in 2019, would end. "The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!" he said. Despite the apparent urgency of Trump's message, the Honduran would-be migrants appeared highly unlikely to get anywhere near their goal after Guatemala announced it would stop them first. "Entry of groups or people" without proper visas "will not be permitted," Guatemala's border authorities said in a statement.

Trump warns Honduras to halt migrant 'caravan' or lose US aid

Mexico has taken into custody more than 300 Central American men, women, and children who were being smuggled to the United States without water or food, officials said Saturday.

The largest group of 198 people crammed into the bottom of a truck was found in Tamaulipas in the northeast, just below the US state of Texas, Mexican immigration enforcement officials said.

The migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador &quot;were travelling in grossly overcrowded conditions without enough ventilation, food or water,&quot; they said in a statement.

Among the many child migrants, 55 were with their parents or relatives, while 24 were making the dangerous journey alone. Just a week ago, another 174 Central Americans were caught in operations in the Mexican states of Coahuila and Tamaulipas.

Amnesty International recently reported that Mexico deports thousands of Central Americans without taking into account their potential rights to treatment as refugees, such as when they are persecuted by organized crime in their home countries.

The so-called Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are among the most violent parts of the world outside of war zones.

They are also a major source of migrants flowing into the United States, where President Donald Trump wants to clamp down on both legal and illegal migration.

Among the many child migrants, 55 were with their parents or relatives, while 24 were making the dangerous journey alone

Mexico has taken into custody more than 300 Central American men, women, and children who were being smuggled to the United States without water or food, officials said Saturday. The largest group of 198 people crammed into the bottom of a truck was found in Tamaulipas in the northeast, just below the US state of Texas, Mexican immigration enforcement officials said. The migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador "were travelling in grossly overcrowded conditions without enough ventilation, food or water," they said in a statement. Among the many child migrants, 55 were with their parents or relatives, while 24 were making the dangerous journey alone. Just a week ago, another 174 Central Americans were caught in operations in the Mexican states of Coahuila and Tamaulipas. Amnesty International recently reported that Mexico deports thousands of Central Americans without taking into account their potential rights to treatment as refugees, such as when they are persecuted by organized crime in their home countries. The so-called Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are among the most violent parts of the world outside of war zones. They are also a major source of migrants flowing into the United States, where President Donald Trump wants to clamp down on both legal and illegal migration.

US-bound migrants 'lacked food and water', freed in Mexico

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was declared on Sunday the winner of a heavily disputed presidential election held three weeks ago, despite mounting protests and opposition claims of fraud.

Electoral authorities made the announcement the day that Hernandez&#39;s leftist opponent, Salvador Nasralla, departed for the United States to highlight what he said was ballot tampering in the November 26 poll.

The declaration could deepen a spiral of violence that has occurred since the election, as anti-Hernandez protesters and police have squared off repeatedly.

Police have counted three deaths in the unrest. But the opposition says 20 people have died, and Amnesty International registered 14 fatalities.

The ballot was deeply contentious.

Hernandez, 49, stood for re-election against Nasralla, a 64-year-old former TV presenter, despite a constitutional ban on presidents having more than one term.

His conservative National Party said that rule was scrapped by a 2015 Supreme Court ruling.

But the opposition insists ballots were tampered with after the election, and says unusual breaks in the count that dragged out the tally over more than a week were suspicious.

The leftist opposition alliance said it was not recognizing Hernandez&#39;s win, and called for protests.

International observers also said they noted &quot;irregularities.&quot;The Supreme Electoral Tribunal had previously declined to name a victor, despite saying that its count of the ballots showed a slight margin in favor of Hernandez: 43 percent to 41 per cent for Nasralla.

But it had to do so by a December 26 deadline, or risk the entire election being invalidated.

Nasralla, the candidate of the leftist Opposition Alliance Against the Dictatorship, is standing firm on his claim that he won the election, and that only fraud made it look like Hernandez had the edge.

He is insisting the entire vote be held again, with greater international scrutiny.

Ex-president Manuel Zelaya, part of the opposition alliance, said the armed forces and police should recognize Nasralla as the winner, as he said the Honduran people had.

&quot;This election is null and void; we are not respecting it,&quot; Zelaya told reporters.

On Sunday, Nasralla left for the United States to call attention to the fraud he said was perpetrated.

He was to meet the head of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, officials from the US State Department and human rights groups.

The US visit &quot;may be decisive in finding a solution to the crisis brought about by fraud and to restore calm to the nation,&quot; he told journalists in Tegucigalpa before leaving.

Going into the election, the United States gave implicit support to Hernandez, who has presided over a crackdown on vicious gangs that are rampant in Honduras.

The country is beset by violence, poverty and corruption and provides many of the undocumented migrants headed to the United States.

Hernandez himself was in mourning over the death of his 51-year-old sister in an air force helicopter crash on Saturday that also killed five others.

Hilda Hernandez had served as the president&#39;s communications minister.

Electoral authorities made the announcement the day that Hernandez's leftist opponent, Salvador Nasralla, departed for the United States to highlight what he said was ballot tampering in the November 26 poll.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was declared on Sunday the winner of a heavily disputed presidential election held three weeks ago, despite mounting protests and opposition claims of fraud. Electoral authorities made the announcement the day that Hernandez's leftist opponent, Salvador Nasralla, departed for the United States to highlight what he said was ballot tampering in the November 26 poll. The declaration could deepen a spiral of violence that has occurred since the election, as anti-Hernandez protesters and police have squared off repeatedly. Police have counted three deaths in the unrest. But the opposition says 20 people have died, and Amnesty International registered 14 fatalities. The ballot was deeply contentious. Hernandez, 49, stood for re-election against Nasralla, a 64-year-old former TV presenter, despite a constitutional ban on presidents having more than one term. His conservative National Party said that rule was scrapped by a 2015 Supreme Court ruling. But the opposition insists ballots were tampered with after the election, and says unusual breaks in the count that dragged out the tally over more than a week were suspicious. The leftist opposition alliance said it was not recognizing Hernandez's win, and called for protests. International observers also said they noted "irregularities."The Supreme Electoral Tribunal had previously declined to name a victor, despite saying that its count of the ballots showed a slight margin in favor of Hernandez: 43 percent to 41 per cent for Nasralla. But it had to do so by a December 26 deadline, or risk the entire election being invalidated. Nasralla, the candidate of the leftist Opposition Alliance Against the Dictatorship, is standing firm on his claim that he won the election, and that only fraud made it look like Hernandez had the edge. He is insisting the entire vote be held again, with greater international scrutiny. Ex-president Manuel Zelaya, part of the opposition alliance, said the armed forces and police should recognize Nasralla as the winner, as he said the Honduran people had. "This election is null and void; we are not respecting it," Zelaya told reporters. On Sunday, Nasralla left for the United States to call attention to the fraud he said was perpetrated. He was to meet the head of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, officials from the US State Department and human rights groups. The US visit "may be decisive in finding a solution to the crisis brought about by fraud and to restore calm to the nation," he told journalists in Tegucigalpa before leaving. Going into the election, the United States gave implicit support to Hernandez, who has presided over a crackdown on vicious gangs that are rampant in Honduras. The country is beset by violence, poverty and corruption and provides many of the undocumented migrants headed to the United States. Hernandez himself was in mourning over the death of his 51-year-old sister in an air force helicopter crash on Saturday that also killed five others. Hilda Hernandez had served as the president's communications minister.

Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez declared winner of disputed poll

Honduras announced a curfew and suspended some constitutional rights to allow security forces to contain protests and unrest over a disputed election in which both candidates have declared themselves winner and the ballot count is entering its sixth day.

Honduras&#39; electoral court had finished counting nearly 95 percent of the vote boxes from last Sunday&#39;s presidential election by late yesterday and said it would conduct a hand count of 1,031 other boxes that presented &quot;inconsistencies.&quot;

Incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez held a lead of more than 46,000 votes over challenger Salvador Nasralla before the last-stage count. It was not immediately clear how many votes could be at play in the uncounted boxes.

As the wait for election results has dragged on rock-wielding protesters have increasingly taken to the streets against riot police armed with tear gas, batons and water cannons. National Police spokesman Jair Meza said 12 people had been wounded in clashes between police and protesters.

Meza said numerous businesses were also damaged and looted in the capital and in San Pedro Sula. Local press reported that protesters set a bank branch on fire and looted several other businesses along a street in San Pedro Sula.

Groups of demonstrators also continued blocking highways with burning tires and other debris, in some cases forcing parents to carry their children through the smoking barriers.

In a decree read out on radio and television, the government&#39;s Cabinet chief Jorge Hernandez said late yesterday that some constitutional guarantees would be suspended for 10 days to allow the army and police to control the situation.

The government declared a curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM across the country.

&quot;The curfew is to safeguard the security of the country,&quot; President Hernandez said as he left a hotel in the capital after meeting with observers from the Organization of the American States and the European Union.

&quot;This is the time for the people to feel supported by their armed forces and their police because it cannot be that somebody decides to loot or rob.&quot;

Earlier, electoral court president David Matamoros said that representatives of the political parties would be present for the vote counts and that no announcements would be made until there is a final result.

After speaking with representatives of the opposition alliance and the National Party, Matamoros said yesterday that each party would be able to accredit 60 people to participate in the afternoon count alongside international observers. He estimated it could take six hours.

But the opposition published a list of demands that included a broader review of votes in three jurisdictions where it alleges voter turnout was unusually high and said the number of ballot boxes that presented issues was far larger. It was unclear if its demands would be met.

The count had still not begun last night because no representatives for Nasralla had arrived: &quot;The wait continues,&quot; said court spokeswoman Lourdes Rosales.

In a statement, the court also said any suggestion of wrongdoing in its operations is false and it lamented the increasing violence in the streets.

Heide Fulton, charge d&#39;affaires at the US Embassy in Honduras, said via Twitter yesterday that Honduras was beginning an &quot;unprecedented phase in the electoral process.&quot; She called for calm during the count.

Both Nasralla and Hernandez have declared themselves the winner of the election and their parties have urged their supporters to defend the vote in the street.

Nasralla and Hernandez have urged calm and warned their supporters to not be provoked into violence.

Retired Gen Romeo Vazquez, who led the coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya in 2009, blamed the unrest on the electoral tribunal&#39;s delay in returning results.&nbsp;

Earlier, electoral court president David Matamoros said that representatives of the political parties would be present for the vote counts and that no announcements would be made until there is a final result

Honduras announced a curfew and suspended some constitutional rights to allow security forces to contain protests and unrest over a disputed election in which both candidates have declared themselves winner and the ballot count is entering its sixth day. Honduras' electoral court had finished counting nearly 95 percent of the vote boxes from last Sunday's presidential election by late yesterday and said it would conduct a hand count of 1,031 other boxes that presented "inconsistencies." Incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez held a lead of more than 46,000 votes over challenger Salvador Nasralla before the last-stage count. It was not immediately clear how many votes could be at play in the uncounted boxes. As the wait for election results has dragged on rock-wielding protesters have increasingly taken to the streets against riot police armed with tear gas, batons and water cannons. National Police spokesman Jair Meza said 12 people had been wounded in clashes between police and protesters. Meza said numerous businesses were also damaged and looted in the capital and in San Pedro Sula. Local press reported that protesters set a bank branch on fire and looted several other businesses along a street in San Pedro Sula. Groups of demonstrators also continued blocking highways with burning tires and other debris, in some cases forcing parents to carry their children through the smoking barriers. In a decree read out on radio and television, the government's Cabinet chief Jorge Hernandez said late yesterday that some constitutional guarantees would be suspended for 10 days to allow the army and police to control the situation. The government declared a curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM across the country. "The curfew is to safeguard the security of the country," President Hernandez said as he left a hotel in the capital after meeting with observers from the Organization of the American States and the European Union. "This is the time for the people to feel supported by their armed forces and their police because it cannot be that somebody decides to loot or rob." Earlier, electoral court president David Matamoros said that representatives of the political parties would be present for the vote counts and that no announcements would be made until there is a final result. After speaking with representatives of the opposition alliance and the National Party, Matamoros said yesterday that each party would be able to accredit 60 people to participate in the afternoon count alongside international observers. He estimated it could take six hours. But the opposition published a list of demands that included a broader review of votes in three jurisdictions where it alleges voter turnout was unusually high and said the number of ballot boxes that presented issues was far larger. It was unclear if its demands would be met. The count had still not begun last night because no representatives for Nasralla had arrived: "The wait continues," said court spokeswoman Lourdes Rosales. In a statement, the court also said any suggestion of wrongdoing in its operations is false and it lamented the increasing violence in the streets. Heide Fulton, charge d'affaires at the US Embassy in Honduras, said via Twitter yesterday that Honduras was beginning an "unprecedented phase in the electoral process." She called for calm during the count. Both Nasralla and Hernandez have declared themselves the winner of the election and their parties have urged their supporters to defend the vote in the street. Nasralla and Hernandez have urged calm and warned their supporters to not be provoked into violence. Retired Gen Romeo Vazquez, who led the coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya in 2009, blamed the unrest on the electoral tribunal's delay in returning results.

Honduras announces curfew, restrictions amid vote protests

The nations,?together known as the Northern Triangle, are plagued by?gangs dealing in murder, extortion and drugs

Presidents of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have announced the formation of a joint force to combat gangs and organised crime groups that have made their countries among the most dangerous in the world. ? The initiative by the three Central American presidents will begin to be implemented in September, Salvadoran President Salvador S?nchez Cer?n told a news conference after a meeting with his counterparts in his capital city. A joint team of police and soldiers from the three countries will patrol the border areas to check arms and drug smuggling, and also the movement of criminals and gang members, he said. The nations, together known as the Northern Triangle, are plagued by gangs dealing in murder, extortion and drugs. Collectively, there were 17,422 murders in the three countries last year and the homicide rate in each nation is topped only by countries engulfed in war. S?nchez Cer?n, Guatemala's Jimmy Morales and Honduras’ Juan Orlando Hernandez also agreed to keep exchanging intelligence on criminal groups and to speed the arrest and extradition between their countries of wanted suspects. "We are fighting for the most fundamental of human rights, the right to life, the right to liberty, the right to enjoy the fruits one one`s honest labours," Hernandez said. (AFP)

El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras form anti-gang force

A baby suffering from a birth defect caused by the Zika virus was born on Tuesday in New Jersey to a woman visiting from Honduras who is infected with virus after she was bitten by a mosquito early on in her pregnancy, media reported.

The baby girl is suffering from severe microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems, after she was delivered through cesarean section at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, the news website NorthJersey.com reported.

U.S.&nbsp;health&nbsp;officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly. The World&nbsp;Health&nbsp;Organization has said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults.

The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last fall in Brazil, which has now confirmed more than 1,300 cases of microcephaly that it considers to be related to Zika infections in the mothers.

The unidentified premature newborn also suffers from intestinal and visual issues, Manny Alvarez, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Hackensack, told NorthJersey.com.

&quot;You could see the pain in her heart,&quot; Alvarez said of the mother, the website reported.

Hospital officials were not available for comment.

The unidentified 31-year-old mother was staying with relatives after she arrived in the United States more than a month ago from Honduras, where she was bitten by a mosquito, Alvarez said.

Zika is carried by mosquitoes, which transmit the virus to humans. A small number of cases of sexual transmission have been reported in the United States and elsewhere. A case of suspected transmission through a blood transfusion in Brazil has raised questions about other ways that Zika may spread.

In January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a U.S. woman who had lived in Brazil gave birth to a microcephalic baby in Hawaii.

The Zika outbreak is affecting large parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, with Brazil the hardest hit.

Honduras is the Central American country with the highest number of Zika cases, with 19,000 infections, and at least 238 pregnant women infected. It has also detected at least 78 Guillain-Barre cases.

There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected.

A baby suffering from a birth defect caused by the Zika virus was born on Tuesday in New Jersey to a woman visiting from Honduras who is infected with virus after she was bitten by a mosquito early on in her pregnancy, media reported.

A baby suffering from a birth defect caused by the Zika virus was born on Tuesday in New Jersey to a woman visiting from Honduras who is infected with virus after she was bitten by a mosquito early on in her pregnancy, media reported. The baby girl is suffering from severe microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems, after she was delivered through cesarean section at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, the news website NorthJersey.com reported. U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly. The World Health Organization has said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults. The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last fall in Brazil, which has now confirmed more than 1,300 cases of microcephaly that it considers to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. The unidentified premature newborn also suffers from intestinal and visual issues, Manny Alvarez, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Hackensack, told NorthJersey.com. "You could see the pain in her heart," Alvarez said of the mother, the website reported. Hospital officials were not available for comment. The unidentified 31-year-old mother was staying with relatives after she arrived in the United States more than a month ago from Honduras, where she was bitten by a mosquito, Alvarez said. Zika is carried by mosquitoes, which transmit the virus to humans. A small number of cases of sexual transmission have been reported in the United States and elsewhere. A case of suspected transmission through a blood transfusion in Brazil has raised questions about other ways that Zika may spread. In January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a U.S. woman who had lived in Brazil gave birth to a microcephalic baby in Hawaii. The Zika outbreak is affecting large parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, with Brazil the hardest hit. Honduras is the Central American country with the highest number of Zika cases, with 19,000 infections, and at least 238 pregnant women infected. It has also detected at least 78 Guillain-Barre cases. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected.

Baby born with birth defect in New Jersey to mother infected by Zika

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