Judge killed by mob after he released rape suspects

A Guatemalan mob has hacked a judge to death and set his body on fire after he let two suspected rapists walk free.

The judge shot two people before the crowd of more than 1,000 peasants killed him with sticks and machetes.

The peasants confronted Judge Hugo Martinez before attacking him and setting fire to the court in Senahu.

He had ruled there wasn't enough evidence to hold two rape suspects handed over to police after they were caught by residents.

National Civil Police spokesman Faustino Sanchez said two people were injured. He added: "The judge shot two people and then the crowd killed him with sticks and machetes".

Residents also took the mayor and three police officers hostage in a nearby building, officials say.

Edin Arondo, spokesman for the volunteer fire department of the nearby city of Coban, said: "The situation outside the area is extremely tense. We can only imagine what is going on inside."

Special Police Force commandos have been sent to the area but residents have stopped them entering the town.