World briefs

Peru's leader apologizes for human rights abuses

LIMA, Peru -- Peru's president apologized for the 70,000 deaths from the country's 20-year battle with the Shining Path insurgency and promised to punish officers blamed for the worst abuses. Alejandro Toledo announced the government would spend $800 million in the next 2 1/2 years on public works in the areas hurt most by the fighting. But he didn't offer individual reparations that victims and human rights groups had sought. Toledo promised to incorporate the commission's key findings into school textbooks and declared Dec. 10 "National Reconciliation Day."

S. Korea, Japan want N. Korea talks to continue

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea and Japan expressed hope Saturday that suspending construction of two nuclear power plants in North Korea won't frustrate efforts to persuade the North to dismantle its suspected nuclear weapons programs. A U.S.-led consortium said Friday it would halt the construction of the light-water reactors for a year. The decision came amid efforts to set up a second round of six-nation talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions in return for security guarantees.

-- From wire reports