World briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 21, 2001

Police arrest Montesinos' relatives

LIMA, Peru -- Four close relatives of Vladimiro Montesinos and four retired army generals with close ties to the fugitive former spy chief were arrested Saturday on corruption and other charges, authorities said.

Police said Montesinos' daughter Silvana Montesinos, sister Karelia Montesinos de Cubas, brother Orlando Montesinos and sister-in-law Estela Zimmerman de Montesinos are being held with the four retired army generals -- including former Interior Minister and Army Gen. Walter Chacon.

Gens. Juan Yanqui, Luis Delgado de la Paz and Luis Cubas, who is married to Montesinos' sister Karelia, were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and arms trafficking, local news reports said.

The four had close ties to Montesinos, who served as former President Alberto Fujimori's top adviser.

Fight over twins continues

LONDON -- Authorities applied Saturday for American-born twins in a trans-Atlantic adoption tussle to be made wards of court until their future is decided.

The Birmingham High Court is expected to consider the application on Tuesday. Until then, the 6-month-old girls will remain in the care of authorities in North Wales, who took the babies from their British adoptive parents on Thursday.

A California couple who had begun to adopt the babies is seeking their return, and the natural mother also has said she wants to get the children back.

Drug boss escapes in Mexico

MEXICO CITY -- A former drug trafficking boss who allegedly took part in a wild airport shootout in 1993 that resulted in the death of a cardinal has escaped from prison in the west-central state of Jalisco, authorities said Saturday.

Joaquin Guzman Loera was last seen in the prison in Puente Grande about 9:15 p.m. Friday, Jorge Tello, federal deputy secretary of public security, told the government news agency Notimex. It was not clear how he escaped.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright