The World : Salvador Offers Amnesty

Salvadoran President Jose Napoleon Duarte offered amnesty to political prisoners and leftist guerrillas willing to join the democratic process. In a speech marking the start of his fourth year in office, Duarte unveiled 54 social and economic proposals for restoring war-torn El Salvador, including an offer of land grants and loans to rebels who lay down their arms, safe passage for 98 wounded rebels to leave the country and the naming of a special prosecutor for human rights cases. He pledged to open a dialogue with the guerrillas if they will renounce violence.