News In Brief

Salvador death-squad activity has declined, reports say

A human-rights group says death squad activity in El Salvador has declined, but that the Salvadorean government has stepped up indiscriminate air attacks on civilians.

The report Friday by Americas Watch came at the same time as a State Department report certifying that the Salvadorean government under President Jose Napoleon Duarte has improved its human-rights record. The department said the Salvadorean government is making impressive progress in eliminating death squads, and El Salvador needs more US military aid.