Second Peruvian minister quits

LIMA - The Peruvian Defence Minister, Gen Tomas Castillo Meza, has resigned from President Alberto Fujimori's cabinet due to …

LIMA - The Peruvian Defence Minister, Gen Tomas Castillo Meza, has resigned from President Alberto Fujimori's cabinet due to recent allegations of rights abuses by the security forces, government sources said yesterday.

Gen Castillo's departure followed Wednesday's resignation of the Foreign Minister, Mr Francisco Tudela. Mr Tudela was widely believed to have resigned to dissociate himself from a string of embarrassing scandals facing Mr Fujimori's government.

The cabinet resignations came as Mr Fujimori's popularity tumbled to its lowest level in seven years of power following a series of allegations against his government. - (Reuter)