Eight die as gunmen attack bus in Honduras

Gunmen have opened fire on a minibus in Honduras, killing eight people, police say.

They said four women and four children were shot dead and that a number of other people were injured.

The minibus was travelling between Catacamas and Juticalpa in central Honduras.

Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with much of the killing blamed on violent gangs known as Maras.

Security Ministry spokesman Leonel Sauceda said the attack "was directed at one or two people aboard the vehicle."

The attackers tried to force the driver to stop and opened fire with assault rifles when he failed to do so, Mr Sauceda said.

The motive for the attack is being investigated.

Honduran newspaper the Herald said police were exploring possible links to drug traffickers.

The paper quoted unnamed sources as saying the gunmen were targeting a woman know only as "the doctor".