The World - News from June 8, 1989

Salvadoran government troops and leftist guerrillas battled in six provinces in the first major military actions since El Salvador’s new president took power a week ago. Radio stations reported “many casualties,” but there was no official count. Traffic on the main Pacific coast highway stopped because of fierce fighting at the village of Tierra Blanca, 57 miles east of San Salvador in Usulutan province. The guerrilla attacks were the strongest since rightist President Alfredo Cristiani was inaugurated. Cristiani has offered talks with the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front to end nearly 10 years of civil war. The rebels have dismissed the offer.