Peru troops cleared over deaths

Commandos killed all the rebels

A military court in Peru has cleared commandos accused of executing rebels during a hostage rescue operation, according to local media reports.

Fourteen members of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement died after special forces freed hostages at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima in April, 1997.

But one former captive said he saw at least three rebels captured alive.

The court said the rebels died in a "military confrontation".

'Taken alive'

The rebels took over the ambassador's residence in December, 1996, and held more than 70 people hostage for four months.

After fruitless negotiations, elite troops staged a daring rescue operation, in which all the guerrillas, two commandos and a hostage were killed.

The military said the rebels died in bomb blasts or ensuing gunfights.

But one of the freed hostages, former Japanese political attache Hidetaka Ogura, said he saw up to three of the rebels taken alive.

A criminal investigation was launched and forensic tests last year showed eight of the rebels had been shot in the base of their necks.

'Obeying orders'

The military court cleared the commandos, saying they were obeying orders from their superiors "in a clear situation of military confrontation", local media reported.

Mario Amoretti, a lawyer for one the accused, said the court closed the case because "what took place was a battle and as a result of that battle the terrorists died", Associated Press news agency reported.

He said the court dismissed the witness' account because all the other hostages disputed it.

Mr Amoretti said relatives of the victims can appeal the court's decision.