Fujimori firm on hostage crisis

President Alberto Fujimori has again rejected a key demand of rebels holding 72 captives, dampening speculation that an end to Peru's hostage crisis was at hand.

Despite newspaper reports that the government and left-wing guerrilla captors were considering a deal, Mr Fujimori said in an interview that he had not budged from his refusal to release several hundred jailed rebels.

AP - Lima