Restricting guarantees is no way to fight organized crime ... in a democratic country

Guatemalan rights group

Mr Portillo said the state of alarm, which requires ratification or rejection by Congress within three days, would only last for up to 30 days, but human rights groups have voiced fears over the measures.

As thousands of police, backed up by soldiers and helicopters, continue to comb the country for the heavily armed convicts, the search has moved to neighbouring countries.

Border alert

The authorities in El Salvador, Honduras and Belize are all on alert and have been provided with details of the murderers, kidnappers, rapists and drug traffickers 13 of whom were on death row.

The directors of the maximum security prison were arrested

The country's biggest jail break in recent times happened on Sunday. One prisoner was killed by the escaping inmates before they took flight, while two others drowned trying to cross a river outside the jail.

Police have detained two officials and 19 guards at the prison for investigation into possible collusion with the escape.

Only about a dozen of the 78 prisoners have been recaptured.

Increased powers

The state of alarm gives the police the power to detain suspects without warrants and to hold them for up to 30 days without trial or arrest.

It also gives officials other than the police, such as members of the army, the power to stop, search and interrogate.

The prohibition on introducing extra-judicial confessions as evidence in a court has also been temporarily lifted.

Our Central America correspondent says that extending police powers is a sensitive issue for Guatemala where memories are still fresh of abuses committed by the state during the 36-year civil war that ended in 1996.

Despite the government's assurance that the special police powers will only last for 30 days at most, human rights groups are worried that they may be extended.

But our correspondent says that many ordinary Guatemalans, who are increasingly worried about spiralling crime, will welcome the move if it helps the manhunt.