Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ecuador Says Border Is Again Under Attack Peruvian Jungle Fighters Storm Posts, Ecuadoreans Report

Associated Press

Ecuador claimed Peruvian jungle fighters attacked its border posts anew Saturday, as peace talks in the two nations’ long-standing dispute dragged on in Brazil.

The fighting took place in rugged, jungle-covered mountains along the border 220 miles southeast of Quito and 530 miles north of Lima, the Peruvian capital, Ecuadorean officials said.

They said they had no information on casualties, and described the skirmishes as of “lower intensity” than previous fighting.

Peruvian officials had no comment. Peru sent soldiers experienced in fighting Maoist guerrillas to the disputed region last week.

The attacks came a day after negotiators from Peru and Ecuador, meeting in Brazil, announced they had reached agreement in principle to end the 10-day border conflict and set up a demilitarized zone. The agreement was contingent on the presidents of both nations giving final approval to the details.

Ecuador had agreed to a simultaneous withdrawal of troops but Peru wants the Ecuadoreans to withdraw first, said Ecuadorean spokesman Santiago Aguilar.

In Rio de Janeiro, Ecuador’s main representative to the talks, Marcelo Fernandez de Cordova, said his nation was “deeply concerned with the delay in reaching a definitive suspension of hostilities.”

But Peru’s chief delegate, Eduardo Ponce, responded that the Ecuadoreans were “trying to gain international sympathy by presenting themselves as victims.”

Antonio Barros Simoes, a Brazilian foreign ministry spokesman, said Saturday evening in Rio that negotiators sent new proposals to the presidents of Peru and Ecuador earlier in the day, and said talks would continue today.

“We have received requests from both governments, particularly from one, for more time to consider the latest proposals,” Barros said.

At least 20 people have been killed in fighting that erupted Jan. 26 over an unmarked 50-mile portion of the border. The conflict over the area, which may contain gold, uranium and oil, stems from a 1941 war that Ecuador lost.