UN condemns Honduras killings

United Nations human rights investigators have called on the government of Honduras to prevent the extrajudicial killing of hundreds of children and teenagers.

A senior UN official, Asma Jahangir - who is visiting Honduras - said some of the killings were carried out by agents of the state.

Human rights campaigners in Honduras say more than 800 young people have been killed in less than four years - and that many were victims of death squads linked to the police.

The Honduran Government acknowledges that members of the security forces may have been involved in some of the deaths, and says 12 police officers have been charged.

Correspondents say many of those killed were members of criminal gangs - and ordinary people are often indifferent to their killing.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service