LIMA, Peru – Peru's newly named interior minister has acknowledged being formally accused of murder in the 1988 killing of a journalist when he was a young army intelligence officer fighting Shining Path rebels.
Daniel Urresti faced reporters Wednesday evening and proclaimed his innocence. An online news outlet had revealed the charges and posted a court document online.
The victim was Hugo Bustios of Caretas magazine, who was ambushed by soldiers in the Ayacucho region while investigating the alleged extrajudicial killings of civilians. His body was dynamited.
Two soldiers were convicted six years ago of killing Bustios. One claimed Urresti was among the killers.
Urresti said President Ollanta Humala knew about the charges, filed last year, when he named him minister last month.
Humala was in Europe and had no immediate comment.
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