Guerrillas from the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (above) rehearsing for their last military parade, the official ceremony marking the end of El Salvador's civil war yesterday.

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GUAZAPA VOLCANO - Guerrillas from the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front rehearsing for their last military parade, the official ceremony marking the end of El Salvador's civil war yesterday. At the ceremony, Dan Quayle, making what will probably be his last foreign trip as US Vice- President, delivered a surprise gift: a reduction in the country's debt worth dollars 464m ( pounds 297m), AP reports.

Under the plan, the United States will write off all but dollars 150m of a dollars 614.8m debt accumulated by El Salvador over a 15-year period. It is the largest debt reduction agreed under President Bush's Enterprise for America initiative. At the peace-making ceremony between the government and guerrilla forces, Mr Quayle said Washington continues to support efforts to rebuild El Salvador.

Mr Quayle flew to El Salvador to sign a declaration of congratulations for the peace accord. 'Many observers said this day would never come,' Mr Quayle said. 'Some said that peace and justice could only come from the barrel of a gun. Others said peace could only be attained by trampling on human rights and liberties.' He said the doubters were wrong and 'the guns were stilled today because democracy and human rights have triumphed'.