Rebels Release Peruvian General Commandos Conduct Drills; Officials Claim Peace Their Goal

Leftist rebels freed a police general from among their dozens of hostages early today for medical reasons.

Police Gen. Jose Rivas Rodriquez was wheeled out of the Japanese embassy residence on a stretcher shortly before 1 a.m. Rivas, a deputy chief of the police high command, was taken to the police hospital.

He was the first hostage freed in more than a week, and his release leaves 72 captives in the hands of leftist rebels. The last hostage let go also was a police commander, released Jan. 17, also for medical reasons.

The situation at the ambassador’s residence has been tense in recent days following stepped-up police maneuvers around the mansion, which was seized by rebels nearly six weeks ago.

Peru’s chief negotiator said Saturday that the police activity was designed to set the stage for talks to end the standoff.

Police have been driving by the Japanese ambassador’s home in troop carriers, flying overhead in a helicopter and even tossing stones onto the grounds. Late Friday, they staged what appeared to be a mock raid outside the walled compound.

Education Minister Domingo Palermo insisted authorities had peaceful motives in their maneuvers.

“The police forces are making a series of preparations for the eventual exit of the (rebels) to begin talks,” he said at a news conference. “In no way does it mean anything else.”

The issue of holding talks has been stalled over the rebel demand of freedom for hundreds of their jailed comrades.