During the 1980s, El Salvador was renowned internationally for abuses of human rights by military death squads, allegedly controlled by ex- ARENA leader, Roberto D'Aubuisson. El Salvador's attempt to defend its record at the UN failed.
Today, conditions have improved and El Salvador is talking of integration with its neighbors, reflecting US policy on the region. Dependence on US aid means that the US ambassador remains one of the most influential figures in El Salvador's external and internal affairs.
