The World - News from Aug. 11, 1989

Opposition parties in El Salvador announced that they are working together to bring about peace talks between the government and leftist rebels to end the country’s nine-year-old civil war. Members of an informal alliance of five left-wing, center and conservative parties said they are bridging the gap between the rightist government of President Alfredo Cristiani and guerrillas of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. Opposition leaders told a news conference that, after recent meetings with Cristiani and guerrilla leaders, they are optimistic about possibilities of talks leading to a settlement.