WORLD : Peru Mine Union Leader Murdered

LIMA, Peru — Peru’s top miners union leader was shot to death and a senior union official today accused a right-wing death squad of his murder.

The bullet-riddled body of Saul Cantoral, 43, secretary general of the 60,000-strong Peruvian Miners Federation, was found near Lima shortly before midnight, according to press and union accounts. Cantoral led two crippling national strikes last year. Owners said one 55-day stoppage caused $497 million in production losses in copper, zinc and silver mines. “We believe it was the Rodrigo Franco Command (that killed Cantoral) because all federation leaders have been threatened by them,” union secretary Alfredo Aquino said.