Hard Line in Hostage Standoff

Peru's government took a tough stance on Friday against Marxist guerrillas who are holding nearly 400 hostages at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima. Signs in various languages were thrust up to news cameras from a second floor window on Friday pleading for food, water, electricity and for telephones to be reconnected. But President Alberto Fujimori's government, closeted in crisis meetings with generals at a military barracks, maintained a stony public silence. Overnight, the government refused point blank the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement's main demand: the release of jailed comrades, including their leader Victor Polay. Red Cross officials are mediating between the government and about 20 rebels who have been holding the hostages since Tuesday night.

Protest Clogs Belgrade Traffic

Some 40,000 students protesting alleged election fraud by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic's ruling Socialists paralyzed the center of Belgrade Friday. The students had vowed to shut down bridges over the Sava River. But riot police kept blocking their way and traffic on the city's main thoroughfares, to the chagrin of commuters stuck in huge jams. The action coincided with the arrival of a delegation from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to investigate vote-rigging allegations by opposition leaders. Opposition supporters and students have staged 33 days of protests over alleged vote-rigging which overturned opposition victories in 15 of Serbia's biggest towns, including the capital.

New Bosnia Peacekeeping Mission

NATO has formally launched its new multi-national peacekeeping force in Bosnia. The Stabilization Force, which will be called "SFOR," will be 35,000 troops strong with 8,000 of them Americans. At a military ceremony in Sarajevo marking the start of SFOR's mission, NATO's Supreme Commander in Europe, U.S. Gen. George Joulwan, emphasized that the troops "are here to keep the peace, not to fight a war." SFOR is to spend 18 months in Bosnia, policing the peace agreement that ended the country's long civil war.

Yeltsin Vows Energetic Return

Saying Russia needs an active president with new ideas and courage, President Boris Yeltsin Friday promised an energetic return to the Kremlin. In his first television interview since multiple bypass heart surgery last month, the 65-year-old Yeltsin said he he'll be back at his desk Monday. He said the doctors have done their job and now it's up to the president. Yelstin also warned he will crack the whip on government officials who have not worked hard enough in his absence and businesses that don't pay taxes. Yelstin has been keeping a low profile since shortly before winning a second term on July 3. He re-emerged publicly in September to announce that that he would undergo major heart surgery.

U.S. Dispute Iraq Spy Claims

Iraqi television Friday showed four Iraqis who it says confessed to spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. The Iraqi News Agency had earlier reported that intelligence officials had uncovered a spy and sabotage group which it said works for the CIA. The news agency gave no details on how the group was caught or if it was connected to the recent assassination attempt on the life of President Saddam Hussein's eldest son, Uday. A CIA spokesman in the United States declined to comment on the report, but U.S. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said the charge was nothing more than propaganda. Another U.S. official suggested the Iraqi report was aimed at showing Saddam's eldest son Uday was in control after surviving an apparent assassination attempt last week.

Marines Landing in Kuwait

Some 2,200 U.S. Marines have begun landing in Kuwait for joint maneuvers with troops in the emirate. The exercises, dubbed Eager Mace-97, are to run through the end of next month. A spokesman for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit says the fact that the operation is taking place over the holidays shows how important it is to U.S. policy in the Gulf. Some 4,200 American soldiers sent to Kuwait in a September standoff with Iraq finished their pullout earlier this month.

Israel Welcomes Pressure on PLO

Israel Friday hailed U.S. pressure on the PLO to wrap up a deal on Israeli troop redeployment in the West Bank town of Hebron. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat reacted pessimistically. Israeli cabinet Secretary Danny Naveh praised remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher that put the onus on Arafat to finalize an accord. Arafat told reporters in Cairo he sees nothing to suggest an agreement is at hand.

China Poised to Reverse Reform

China is poised to take a step in reversing democratic reform in Hong Kong. Beijing plans to create a new legislature to replace Hong Kong's elected body when Beijing resumes control of the British colony next year. The die will be cast tomorrow when 400 Hong Kong leaders, vetted by China, meet to appoint 60 legislators who will make the Hong Kong laws that take effect July 1. Britain lowers the Union Jack in Hong Kong at midnight June 30.

S.Korea's Cabinet Reshuffled

South Korean President Kim Young-sam reshuffled his scandal-tainted cabinet today, introducing new faces to polish his government's image as it heads into a presidential election year. A spokesman for the presidential Blue House announced a string of new appointments at a miscellany of ministries, including the ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Cabinet reshuffles are frequent in South Korea, where real power resides in the Blue House. Ministers are easy scapegoats for political and economic troubles.

Singapore to Offer Internet TV

Singapore says it soon will offer Asia's first Internet access to services offering video as good as television. SingTel and the Television Corp. of Singapore say a trial of the service will begin in 40 homes in March. In June, a commercial trial will start in 300 homes, with TCS providing the contents and SingTel providing the network and infrastructure for delivery. Customers will receive films, film previews, educational material, music videos and games. There's no word yet on what the service will cost.

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