TOKYO - The Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Ryutaro Hashimoto, left for Peru yesterday after apologising for Tokyo's handling of the four-month hostage crisis at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima.
He left on a one-day visit to formally thank Peruvian authorities for their role in the crisis. Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement rebels took over the Japanese ambassador's home in Lima on December 17th. They took some 500 people hostage and gradually released all but 72. In a rescue operation on April 22nd, all but one of the hostages were freed alive. Two soldiers and one hostage died along with all 14 rebels.