President Higgins arrives in El Salvador

President Michael D Higgins has arrived in El Salvador for the second leg of his South American trip.

The President arrived to a red-carpet airport ceremony and military band, where he was presented with the key to the city of San Salvador in honour of his human rights work in El Salvador during the country’s civil war.

Later today, he will meet with President Funes who will present President Higgins with the State honour.

Both the Irish and the flag of El Salvador will be raised in an official ceremony during which the national anthem of each country will be played.

President Higgins will later this week visit the memorial sites of some of those massacred by the military government during the civil war, including a number of people to whom President Higgins was close personal friends.

He will also meet with survivors of the notorious El Mozote massacre which he spent many years highlighting.

His State visit will last for four days.