News In Brief

Peru is winning its fight with rebels, official says

Peru's security forces are winning the battle against Maoist guerrillas in a central mountain zone wracked by insurgent violence, according to Interior Minister Luis Percovich.

He told reporters Monday that the rebels had been forced out of several districts in the nine-province emergency zone southeast of the capital. Meanwhile, the government said the armed forces would intervene in a paralyzing strike by bus and truck owners by providing bus services in areas hard hit by the stoppage.