Representatives of El Salvador's notorious Mara Salvatrucha and Mara 18 gangs have announced an expansion of the terms of their recent truce, calling a halt to the recruitment of children and youths and declaring schools off-limits for their activities.

Last month the Central American country, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, had its first murder-free day in nearly three years.

-- Reuters and Agence France Presse contributed to this report