PERU: LIMA: SHOTS ARE HEARD FROM JAPANESE EMBASSY

Описание: (28 Jan 1997) Spanish/Nat

Several shots rang out from inside the Japanese embassy compound, Monday.

The shots were fired as Peruvian Police commandos and armoured vehicles passed in front of the compound.

Police said one bullet nicked a personnel carrier, but there were no reports of injuries.

Government negotiator Domingo Palermo said in a press conference Monday that a location has been found for talks whenever they do start.

Peruvian armed police commandos marched in force Monday outside the Japanese diplomatic residence, where leftist rebels hold 72 captives.

As the commandos passed in front of the embassy, a Peruvian police officer in this armoured vehicle made obscene gestures sparkling the young rebels' anger.

A few shots were fired but they were no major damages or any injuries.

The deployment came just hours after Japan urged Peru to show restraint in manoeuvres outside the compound, where the Tupac Amaru rebels have been holding hostages for five weeks.

The Peruvian government has been declaring that it will seek a negotiable outcome to the hostage crises.

But a police helicopter circled overhead as commandos marched to the strains of martial music commemorating Peruvian battles against neighbouring Ecuador and Chile.

Moments after the shootings, the commandos returned and walked at a snail's pace as they aimed their rifles at the residence.

And later again, commandos returned for another march past the residence - their fifth of the afternoon.

Police have stepped up manoeuvres outside the compound in the past two weeks, leading rebels to complain police are trying to provoke a confrontation to justify storming the compound.

In a press conference shortly after, chief Peruvian negotiator, Domingo Palermo, declared that a new medical team composed of three doctors, provided by the Japanese and Peruvian governments and International Red Cross, will be formed.

This comes after the liberation of General Jose Rivas Rodriguez who was rushed out of the compound on a stretcher, accompanied by Red Cross officials on Sunday.

Domingo reassured families saying that hostages were given the necessary care.

He then added that the government was now logistically ready for negotiations with the Tupac Amaru rebels.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"The Government has found a house to conduct talks and an armoured vehicle has been dispatched for this purpose, finishing, thus, the logistics necessary for the eventual start of negotiations."
SUPER CAPTION: Domingo Palermo, Peruvian chief negotiator

There was no mention yet as to when the negotiations would start.

President Fujimori insists the rebels drop the demand of liberating 400 rebel comrades before negotiations start.

Domingo made no comment on the gunshots fired by the rebels on the police commandos parading outside the compound.

And after a day of show and counter show, everything seemed back to normal at the most famous embassy in the world.

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