LIMA - There was little sign of movement towards promised talks at the Japanese embassy residence yesterday, President Alberto Fujimori's first full day home after meetings with Japanese and US leaders.
The scene at the residency has grown more calm since last week's military marches threatened to deteriorate into violence.
On his trip Mr Fujimori appeared to win support from Japanese Prime Minister Mr Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Clinton for his handling of the hostage crisis.
"The cards are already on the table and all 72 people must be kept safe and sound to continue talking," he said in an optimistic statement late on Tuesday. "We hope to win their freedom at any time."
There have been regular informal discussions between the government and rebels but formal talks were held just once, on December 28th, because of discord over putting prisoner releases on the agenda.