Contras’ Leader Admits Abuses, Assists Inquiry

The contras’ top commander acknowledged today that his troops have committed isolated human rights abuses but said a congressionally mandated report shows they are cooperating fully in investigations of such abuses.

An advance copy of the report obtained by the Associated Press details a dozen incidents leading to the deaths of eight civilians and eight Sandinista prisoners.

The Nicaraguan Assn. for Human Rights, created at Congress’ request as a condition for U.S. aid, said it was also investigating 22 other cases that occurred over the last two years.

Among the cases investigated was the April death of U.S. citizen Benjamin Linder, who worked on hydroelectric projects in Nicaragua. The report concluded he was killed in an ambush by contras who had heard there was a Sandinista patrol with a Cuban and another foreigner in the area.

“You must understand that in war there are innocent victims,” Enrique Bermudez, the contra commander in chief, said today. “But there is no systematic policy” of abuses in the Nicaraguan Resistance.

The commander refused to discuss specific cases, calling them “accidental, transitory” violations. He said they have all been referred to a contra investigating commission and its legal department.