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Peru rebels launch deadly ambush Peru rebels launch deadly ambush
(about 2 hours later)
Twelve soldiers and seven civilians have been killed in a rebel ambush in a remote coca-growing region in south-east Peru, the military said. Twelve soldiers and seven civilians have been killed in a bomb attack by rebels in a remote coca-growing region of south-east Peru, the military said.
The attack took place late on Thursday as a military convoy returned to a base in Huancavelica province. A military convoy was returning to base when a device hidden under one of the vehicles exploded. The survivors were then caught up in a gun battle.
The armed forces said it believed the rebels belong to the Shining Path, which wrought havoc in Peru during the 1980s and early 1990s. The armed forces blame the Shining Path group, which wrought havoc in Peru during the 1980s and early 1990s.
It is thought to be the worst attack in a decade by the Maoist-inspired group. It is the worst attack in a decade by the Maoist-inspired organisation.
"The toll from the attack as far as we know has risen to seven civilians killed and several wounded including some women and children, and 12 members of the military patrol are dead and some others are wounded," the Peruvian armed forces said in a statement. 'Narco-terrorists'
The surviving soldiers returned fire on the rebels for several hours. Peru's military command said women and children were among those killed.
Many more were injured during the attack in the Andes mountains, at Huancavelica province.
It came amid reports that Peru's army had launched an operation to remove some 300 Shining Path rebels who work closely with cocaine traffickers in the region.
The BBC's Dan Collyns in Lima says soldiers killed in the attack were part of that operation, which is focused on isolated jungle in the Ene-Apurimac valley - a hotbed for traffickers and guerrillas.
Our correspondent says the number of confrontations between the armed forces and the rebel groups, which the authorities call "narco-terrorists", is increasing.
In the 1980s and 1990s the guerrilla group attempted to impose a communist regime. Almost 70,000 people were killed during the violence.In the 1980s and 1990s the guerrilla group attempted to impose a communist regime. Almost 70,000 people were killed during the violence.
However, the conflict has been largely dormant in recent years. However, the conflict has been largely dormant in recent years, and analysts say the Shining Path is a fraction of its former size.
Analysts say the Shining Path is a fraction of its former size but its fighters still control remote coca-growing areas of Peru's central jungle and are heavily involved in the drugs trade.
The army is reported to have launched an operation in recent weeks to remove an estimated 300 Shining Path rebels who work in the cocaine trade in the region.