Politician arrested in deaths of journalists

A ruling-party lawmaker accused of orchestrating the murder of two journalists in 2015 was arrested Saturday in southwestern Guatemala.

Public Ministry spokesperson Yecenia Enriquez said Julio Antonio Juarez Ramirez was detained on a warrant sought by prosecutors and a UN anti-corruption commission.

Juarez is suspected of murder, attempted murder and criminal association for allegedly hiring hit men to kill journalist Danilo Efrain Lopez, fearing that his coverage would hurt Juarez’s electoral campaign. A second journalist, Federico Benjamin Salazar, also died in the March 10, 2015, shooting.