At least 12 soldiers and seven civilians have been killed in an ambush by rebels in south-east Peru, the defence ministry said.

The attack took place late on Thursday as a military convoy returned to a base in Huancavelica province.

The military said it believed the rebels belong to the Shining Path, which wrought havoc in Peru during the 1980s and early 1990s.

It is thought to be the worst attack in a decade by the Maoist-inspired group.

In the 1980s and 1990s the guerrilla group attempted to impose a communist regime. Almost 70,000 people were killed during the violence.

However, the conflict has been largely dormant in recent years.

Analysts say the Shining Path is a fraction of its former size but its fighters still control remote coca-growing areas of Peru's central jungle and are heavily involved in the drugs trade.

The army is reported to have launched an operation in recent weeks to remove an estimated 300 Shining Path rebels who work in the cocaine trade in the region.

(BBC)

<< Back