Argentina singer Facundo Cabral shot dead

Cabral, 74, was heading from his hotel to the airport in Guatemala City where he was ambushed, although the reason remains unclear.

He had flown in the city of Quetzaltenango, 200 km (120 miles) west of Guatemala City, Thursday.

In 1996, Unesco said Cabral a "messenger of world peace."

His most famous song was No Soy de Aqui Alla NI (I'm not from here or there), which was recorded in a number of languages.

Guatemala has one of the highest murder rates in Latin America.
The singer of protest

Police said vehicles Cabral, who was accompanied by another bodyguard of transport, had been hit by a number of bullets and the singer has died at the scene.

He was headed to Nicaragua for more concerts Rolando Robles, a spokesman for Guatemala's President Alvaro Colom said the chief was "appalled by this cowardly act."

The president's office said the police investigation into whether the shooting was an attempted theft or a targeted attack.

Local media said the vehicle carrying Cabral tried to escape in a fire station. Police said one of the vehicles of the attackers was found abandoned on the road to El Salvador. He had bullet holes and spent cartridges contained.

President Colom told Argentine radio, he called his counterpart, President Cristina Fernandez, to tell him the news and said it "seemed to hit hard."

"We will find these criminals and bring them to justice," Colom said.

Representing Cabral, David Llanos, told reporters: "I do not know how and why this happened, because Facundo is well known in the world and I do not see why anyone would be interested in killing him."

Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman tweeted his "profound sadness" at the news.