Jon Miller reports from Lima that Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori today indicated that he will not resort to force to end the hostage crisis at the Japanese ambassador's residence. Speaking in public for just the third time since the standoff began, Fujimori said he remains steadfast in his refusal to release jailed leftist rebels, the main demand of the guerrillas who took over the compound. But the Peruvian leader also said his position is a mixture of "firmness" and "prudence," and that he is looking for a way out of the crisis. It was three weeks ago today that rebels of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement seized the compound during a party; several hundred hostages have been released, but 74 remain, including senior Peruvian officials and Japanese businessmen.
Copyright 1997 NPR