News In Brief

Cantadora group urges Central American pact

Four Latin American foreign ministers emerged from weekend crisis talks in Panama City saying their 15-month-old drive for a regional settlement risked losing credibility unless a peace pact was signed by the end of the month.

On Sunday, they condemned foreign support of antigovernment rebels and foreign military maneuvers in Central America. The statement by the Contadora group - Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama - did not identify the United States, but diplomatic sources said it referred to US support for right-wing Nicaraguan guerrillas based in Honduras and joint US-Honduran military exercises. It also condemned the mining of Nicaraguan ports.