Investigations by the Secretary-General and the Government of El Salvador into illegal armed groups and their possible association with the violence was welcomed. At the same time, the Security Council was concerned about the politically motivated murders of members of parties including the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) and the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA). For the Council, El Salvador was in a critical phase and indicated that the elections should be held in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere.