News In Brief

Leahy seeks probe of rebel articities in Nicaragua

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) of Vermont called Thursday for an investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee into alleged atrocities by US-backed rebels fighting Nicargua's Sandinista government.

The New York Times said yesterday that reports of atrocities by the contras had come to light during congressional investigations into a controversial Central Intelligence Agency manual on guerrilla warfare prepared for the contras. It said there was evidence that the contras had killed and tortured unarmed civilians in Nicaragua in their efforts to overthrow the Sandinista government.