Leader of Peru's leftist insurgency shot and captured in jungle

Artemio, head of Shining Path guerrilla group, wounded by security forces of president Ollanta Humala

guardian.co.uk, Reuters, Sunday 12 February 2012

Artemio, the nom de guerre of Florindo Eleuterio Flores, was shot and
captured by Peru's security forces in a remote jungle. Photograph: Reuters

The most important leader of Peru's leftist Shining Path insurgency has been seriously wounded and captured by security forces after being shot in a remote jungle, president Ollanta Humala has said.

Artemio, the nom de guerre of Florindo Eleuterio Flores, heads the remnant group of guerrillas that went into the cocaine trade after the founders of the Maoist rebels were imprisoned during a bloody war against the state in the 1990s. Peru is the world's top grower of coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine.

Humala had earlier said Artemio was dead but it was later revealed he had survived the attack.

Peruvian anti-drug police had tried for years to arrest Artemio. Two years ago, the United States offered a multimillion-dollar reward for information leading to his capture.

Humala, who fought against the Shining Path when he was a military officer in the 1990s, has vowed to step up efforts to catch what the government calls "narco-terrorists." The capture of Artemio is seen as his first major victory.

Former president Alan García, failed in his attempt to stamp out several hundred rebels who have yet to surrender their arms.