Peru congress approves reforms

The Peruvian Congress has given final approval to constitutional changes that will cut President Alberto Fujimori's term in office and pave the way for elections next April.

Mr Fujimori, who will not be running, suggested the early elections in an attempt to defuse the political crisis over a bribery scandal involving his former spy chief, Vladimiro Montesinos.

Meanwhile, troops in the south of Peru are continuing to search for a handful of rebel soldiers.

The soldiers attempted an uprising at the weekend to call for Mr Fujimori's resignation and for Mr Montesinos to be jailed. Peru's human rights ombudsman, Jorge Santistevan, says his office is still trying to negotiate a peaceful surrender by the rebel soldiers.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service