Interior minister resigns in Peru

LIMA - The President of Peru, Mr Alberto Fujimori, named Gen Cesar Saucedo on Saturday as interior minister after the resignation…

LIMA - The President of Peru, Mr Alberto Fujimori, named Gen Cesar Saucedo on Saturday as interior minister after the resignation of Mr Juan Briones, who admitted security lapses that allowed rebels to storm the Japanese ambassador's home and hold 72 hostages since December.

Mr Briones and police chief, Mr Ketin Vidal, who also resigned on Saturday, faced mounting criticism over the failure by the security services to prevent the assault by Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement guerrillas on December 17th.