The World - News from July 24, 1988

The Nicaraguan Contras, struggling to quell internal dissent, indicated they will seek a new round of peace talks with the leftist Sandinista government. Alfredo Cesar, one of the seven Contra political directors, said he is asking President Oscar Arias Sanchez of Costa Rica to arrange more discussions; the last round ended in a stalemate on June 9. Cesar also said that Col. Enrique Bermudez, a controversial hard-liner who was elected to the rebel political leadership last week, will step down as military commander of the U.S.-backed forces. Seven commanders of a small, Costa Rica-based Contra organization resigned in protest after Bermudez’s election. There was no comment from Bermudez.