News In Brief

Costa Rica seeks reassurance it's not anti-Sandinist base

Costa Rica has asked the Contadora peace group to appoint observers to ascertain that US-backed Nicaraguan guerrillas do not conduct military operations from Costa Rican territory. Costa Rica has declared itself neutral in Central American conflicts. It allows the right-wing Nicaraguan Democratic Front guerrillas to have offices in Costa Rica but says it does not permit any military activities to be launched from its soil.

At a news conference Wednesday in Madrid, representatives of the Contadora group said they will delay completion of the proposed peace treaty so as to discuss objections by El Salvador and Honduras.