News In Brief

US-backed rebels give up in amnesty, Managua says

More than 300 US-backed rebels fighting Nicaragua's left-wing government have surrendered to authorities in Managua and been released under an amnesty program , the Interior Ministry said Wednesday.

A communique said a total of 347 rebels had surrendered with their arms since December, when the amnesty decreed by the Sandinist government went into effect.

The amnesty offer, which ends in three weeks, applies to almost all the 12, 000 rebels fighting the Sandinists and gives them the right to take part in national elections due next year.