Honduras passes wiretap, bike laws to stem crime

The Honduran Congress has passed bills allowing authorities to wiretap the telephone conversations, emails and bank accounts of suspected criminals and temporarily banning motorcycles from carrying passengers.

The two initiatives are aimed at stemming a wave of drug violence and organized crime that has plagued the Central American nation.

The lawmakers passed the measures Thursday, just days after a radio news host and a former adviser to the government were fatally shot by gunmen on motorcycles, presumably by shooters who were riding as passengers. The passenger ban is for six months.

President Porfirio Lobo is expected to sign both bills into law.

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