A group advocating press freedom is condemning El Salvador's arrest of a journalist on terrorism charges.

In a news release Tuesday, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres) called the arrest of María Haydee Chicas during a demonstration a "grave abuse of authority".

Police detained Chicas in El Salvador's northeastern city of Suchito. She had been reporting on a forum of community groups and non-governmental organizations protesting government plans to privatize water distribution. Chicas faces a possible sentence of 40 to 60 years in prison under El Salvador's new anti-terrorism law.

In the statement, the press freedom group appealed to Salvadoran President Elías Antonio Saca to intervene in the case. The organization says it is ridiculous to claim that someone who was just doing their job as a journalist was engaged in an act of terrorism.