World IN BRIEF : GUATEMALA : Peace Hopes Gain With Rights Panel

The Guatemalan government and leftist guerrillas have agreed to form a commission to investigate human rights abuses, raising hopes for an overall peace agreement to end Central America’s only ongoing civil war. “With agreement on the sensitive and most difficult issue of human rights, a final peace (agreement) in Guatemala is becoming a very strong possibility before the end of this year,” said Norwegian diplomat Arne Aasheim, who participated in the talks in Oslo. The panel, which will have no legal authority to punish abuses, will start work as soon as an overall agreement is signed.