Fighting flares in Peruvian jungle

LIMA (Reuter) - Two soldiers and six Maoist guerrillas were killed in separate fighting over the past week in Peru's south- central highlands and drug- producing north-eastern jungle, the military said.

Six suspected Shining Path rebels were killed, 10 wounded and 15 captured in firefights along the coca-growing Huallaga River Valley, the army said. It also said two 'common criminals' were killed.

Meanwhile, in the highland Ayacucho province, two soldiers were killed and two wounded in skirmishes during the week between army patrols and Shining Path columns.