LIMA - Responding to a renewed hard line by left wing hostage takers, President Alberto Fujimori yesterday rejected the idea of freeing jailed rebels in exchange for the 72 captives at the Japanese ambassador's home.
"The framework in which we are working is ... not to accept the release of any of them," Mr Fujimori told Frecuencia Latina television in a taped interview. On Saturday, rebel leader Nestor Cerpa Cartolini said as long as the government denies that possibility, "a peaceful solution is a long way out" he said. Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement rebels seized the hostages December 17 and have been demanding freedom for some 440 jailed comrades.