Gangs offer gleam of light to El Salvador economy

Leaders of El Salvador's violent "mara" gangs say they are prepared to talk with the government on a possible long-term peace pact.

So far a 100-day truce has more than halved the murder rate in El Salvador. The possibility of peace talks opens a shaft of light in the dark recent history of El Salvador.

Once a vibrant economy, the country is a laggard in growth among the Central American nations, while foreign direct investment is close to non-existent. Business leaders say the problems are caused by the violence of the maras.