Two jailed for Honduras massacre

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Two members of a gang who opened fired on a bus in the Central American nation of Honduras, killing 27 people, have each been jailed for 822 years.

The men were convicted of attacking the bus full of Christmas shoppers in San Pedro Sula on 23 December, 2004.

The men were said to belong to the Mara Salvatrucha, a notorious gang operating in Central America and the US.

Officials said at the time the killings were meant as a warning over government attempts to curb gang violence.

Juan Carlos Miranda and Darwin Alexis Ramirez were found guilty of involvement in the bloody attack on the bus just before Christmas four years ago.

Some 10 attackers ambushed the bus, opening fire for several minutes and killing 27 of the 56 people on board, many of them women and children.

The two defendants were convicted of 27 murders, 10 attempted murders, being gang members and carrying illegal weapons.

The court gave them sentences totalling 822 years, although under Honduran law they will serve 40 years, the maximum term allowed.

Honduran officials say the case is not closed and that other suspects in the shooting are still sought.