Salvadorean President re-appoints general as Defence Minister

El Salvador's President named on 11 July the former public security and justice minister David Munguía Payés as Defence Minister, weeks after the Constitutional Court ordered his removal as Minister of Justice for being a soldier, Salvadorean media reported. General Munguía was becoming Defence Minister for the second time; the first time was between 2009 and 22 November 2011. President Mauricio Funes promptly appointed him to replace José Atilio Benítez who resigned for unspecified reasons, and few explanations were given to the press for the change, the Salvadorean daily El Mundo reported on 12 July. General Munguía was credited when Minister of Justice with having played a facilitating role in the ceasefire the main criminal gangs began in March 2012 with the help of mediators. The Government officially had no direct role in the ceasefire though it approved it as a first step toward the country's gradual pacification. Mr Funes said on 11 July that the appointment showed he was confident the general would continue to transform "the Armed Forces into an institution obedient to civilian power."