A Peruvian army officer and a small band of his followers were on the run yesterday in the desolate highlands of southern Peru after mounting a brief mutiny against President Alberto Fujimori.
Some 50 soldiers led by Lieut Col Ollanta Humala Tasso fled with four hostages after briefly taking control of the Toquepala copper mine and the mining town of Masocruz, about 1,100 km south of the capital, early on Sunday.
By midday yesterday three of the hostages had been released, and about 16 of the soldiers had deserted the band, according to radio reports.
Gen Oscar Bardales, Col Humala Tasso's commander, was rescued late last night, the army announced.
Yet the rebel soldiers had still to be captured, despite military road-blocks and the lack of hiding places in the Andean highlands, with their sparse vegetation.
Three mine employees who had been taken hostage were released yesterday morning, according to Mr Manuel Ramirez, a mine executive.
The rebelling officers also returned three vehicles belonging to the Mexican-owned Southern Peru mining company, Mr Ramirez said on Radioprogramas del Peru radio station.
The mine employees were unharmed but exhausted after passing the night in the frigid region which lies at 4,000 metres (2,485 feet), said Mr Ramirez.
He said Col Humala Tasso had requested food, vehicle fuel and medicine from the company, and the vehicle in which these were delivered was returned with two other vehicles and three hostages.
On Sunday the military issued a statement saying the rebellion was to be neutralised with "appropriate operations to safeguard the political and social stability of the country".
There had been concern that Col Humala Tasso's Manifesto to the Peruvian People might ignite a more widespread rebellion in the armed forces.
It was broadcast from the mine on Sunday, the morning after President Fujimori began a shuffle among his top military officers, which might have left some disgruntled, observers said.
"Fujimori cannot be considered the supreme leader of the armed forces," Col Humala Tasso said in his statement, calling on other officers "to make a manly decision" and join him in revolt.
Col Humala Tasso also denounced Mr Fujimori's former secret police chief, Mr Vladimiro Montesinos. Despite Saturday's reshuffle, Montesinos loyalists remained in command, he said.
"The army is sullied by a group of generals who mistreat the institution," he proclaimed. "As an officer, I cannot permit that and I consider that Fujimori has no mandate to retain the presidency of the Republic," he said.
The army shuffle continued meanwhile with the appointment of Gen Walter Chacon Malaga to replace Gen Jose Villanueva Ruesta as joint chief of the armed forces.
The mutiny was unanimously condemned in political circles but not without a note of ambiguity on the part of the opposition. Some of its representatives said that while they did not approve of the act they understood its motives.
A total of around 100 Peruvians joined two small demonstrations in Lima on Sunday in support of the revolt.
About 50 people gathered in the capital's historic main square, in front of the army headquarters. Members of a group known as Democratic Tribune, they demanded that President Fujimori resign in favour of a transitional government.
The group comprised mainly university students and former members of the military.
In another demonstration, including students and workers, around 60 members of a group called Civil Resistance protested outside the armed forces chiefs-of-staff headquarters.