LEFT-WING Peruvian rebels holding 74 hostages at the Japanese embassy residence for the past month yesterday released the chief of operations of Peru's anti terrorism police, eyewitnesses said.
International Red Cross representative Mr Michel Minnig appeared to help Mr Luis Valencia leave the compound and climb into a white vehicle. Mr Minnig said later that the Red Cross had requested Mr Valencia's release for health reason.
Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement rebels, who seized the residence with more than 600 prominent officials inside during a reception on December 17th last released hostages on January 1st, when a group of seven were let out.
Applause could be heard from the embassy compound as Mr Valencia left.
Still held captive are the Japanese ambassador, Japanese executives, the Bolivian ambassador President Alberto Fujimori's younger brother and two cabinet ministers.
Talks on a negotiating commission to resolve the crisis are under way but rebels have not abandoned their main demand - that an estimated 440 Tupac Amaru rebels in Peru's prisons be freed. Mr Fujimori has flatly refused.
The release came as Peruvian officials and, the rebels battled over the make- up of a negotiating panel to end the crisis. The two sides have agreed on representatives from the Holy See and the Red Cross, but rebels want a Guatemalan on the panel and the Peruvian government has refused.