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Peru ministers resign over rebel clashes
[Bangla Daily Star] Peru's interior and defence ministers resigned yesterday in the face of a public outcry over a failed security operation against Shining Path rebels.

Interior Minister Daniel Lozada and Defence Minister Alberto Otarola had been facing censure in congress.

Both had been criticised after at least nine soldiers and coppers were killed in festivities with the rebels.

There was particular outrage after the father of one dead officer was left to recover his body from the jungle.

"Recent events have led me to take this decision so that our government and the people can unite behind our security forces, to give them the support they need to defeat narco-terrorism" Mr Otarola said.

The festivities happened last month in the Apurimac-Ene valley in southern Peru, a stronghold of the Maoist Shining Path group.

Posted by: Fred 2012-05-12
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=344481