Haig: no leftist Salvadoran talks

February 3, 1982

Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr., testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ruled out negotiations with leftist guerrillas in El Salvador, saying they were opposed to self-determination for the people of the Central American country.

In an apparent reference to reports of atrocities by Salvadoran government troops, Mr. Haig also suggested that a ''worldwide press campaign'' was under way to show ''the worst of everything'' in El Salvador.

Under questioning by senators, Haig appeared to leave open the possibility that the United States might consider sending combat troops to El Salvador.