Battles Continue In Border Dispute

Peru attacked Ecuadorean border posts Wednesday with helicopter raids and mortar fire, and Ecuador claimed it downed its fourth Peruvian helicopter. Talks resumed in Brazil to end the 2-week-old fighting.

In Lima, the Peruvian capital, armed forces chief Gen. Nicolas Hermoza said Peru had dislodged Ecuador’s forces from Base Sur and Cueva de los Tayos, two of three posts that Peru says are in its territory.

He said his troops had surrounded Tiwintza, the third border post in a disputed area of rugged, jungle-covered mountains 220 miles southeast of Quito and 600 miles north of Lima.

Ecuador denied the …

Peru attacked Ecuadorean border posts Wednesday with helicopter raids and mortar fire, and Ecuador claimed it downed its fourth Peruvian helicopter. Talks resumed in Brazil to end the 2-week-old fighting.

In Lima, the Peruvian capital, armed forces chief Gen. Nicolas Hermoza said Peru had dislodged Ecuador’s forces from Base Sur and Cueva de los Tayos, two of three posts that Peru says are in its territory.

He said his troops had surrounded Tiwintza, the third border post in a disputed area of rugged, jungle-covered mountains 220 miles southeast of Quito and 600 miles north of Lima.

Ecuador denied the report, insisting its forces remained in nine border posts that have come under attack since Jan. 26.

Unconfirmed news reports in Peru said 150 soldiers have died on both sides in the assault on Tiwintza alone.