Rebels Call Off Offer of Government Talks

Leftist guerrillas on Wednesday accused the government of “delay and deceit” in responding to their recent peace overtures and said they will not meet with government officials before the presidential election.

The rebels also urged a boycott of the March 19 election but held out the possibility of renewing the peace initiative later this year.

The Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front had offered to participate in and abide by the results of the election if it were postponed until September and certain security and anti-fraud measures were adopted. But the government of President Jose Napoleon Duarte was unable to arrange talks with the rebels to consider the plan.