The Peruvian President, Alberto Fujimori, has announced the capture of a guerrilla leader from the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement.

Mr Fujimori saidthe arrest of the man, known as "Comrade Joel", was a tough blow to the rebels.

The group gained worldwide attention when its members raided the Japanese ambassador's residence in December 1996 and held seventy-two people hostage for more than four months.

At the weekend, the Peruvian authorities also arrested the number three leader of the Shining Path guerrillas Jenny Rodriguez Neyra.

However, correspondents say some members of the anti-terrorist police are playing down the importance of the captured rebels.