Peru's PM agrees to propose measure to repeal laws that sparked deadly clashes

Eleven days after demonstrations by Amazonian indigenous people turned violent -- leaving at least 34 protesters and police dead --Peru's prime minister has signed a pact with tribal leaders. Pamela Cueva reports.

Prime Minister Yehude Simons has announced that the government will send a bill to the national congress by Thursday that would revoke the laws that ignited the confrontation. The 1090 and 1064 decrees would open more than 50% of the Amazonian forest to mining, oil and gas exploration; they were passed as part of an effort to establish a free trade agreement with the United States. Simons apologized to the Amazonian delegates for the deaths, and acknowledged that the government did not repeal the decrees when they had originally promised to do so. Finally, he announced that he will resign his position after the negotiations are finished.

Prime Minister Yehude Simons: "We will come to the table tomorrow, meaning that we will accept the requests the indigenous people considered to be pressing matters. They suggest overturning legislative decrees 1090 and 1064, which we, as the commission have accepted because its represents the voice of the majority." For FSRN, I'm Pamela Cueva with Alfredo Cuadros, Lima.

UN observers pack up to leave Abkhazia after Russia vetoes extending mission
UN observers are pulling are pulling out of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia today after Russia vetoed an extension of their mission during a vote at the UN security council. Jacob Resneck reports.

The 16-year-old observer mission has been overseeing a ceasefire between Georgia and the rebel region which fought a war for independence in the early nineties. Russia and Nicaragua recognized Abkhazia's independence following last Augusts' war between Georgia and Russia. Speaking on the eve of the UN vote, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba said the UN must recognize that Abkhazia is no longer part of Georgia. The UN mission head told reporters he fears for the future of the 60,000 ethnic Georgians living in Abkhazia now that observers are leaving but Foreign Minister Shamba says peace is still possible.

"Of course in the future we will have to negotiate in order to live peacefully together within this territory. This conflict that took place here was the result of Georgia's desire to control our territory."

The fate of the UN mission is similar to observers from the OSCE that have been monitoring the border between Georgia and the breakaway republic of South Ossetia. Russia also vetoed extending OSCE monitors along the frontier between Georgia and South Ossetia. The OSCE has until the end of the month to withdraw. Jacob Resneck, FSRN, Abkhazia.