Peru president questioned about 1986 massacre

LIMA, Feb 10 (Reuters) Peruvian President Alan Garcia was being questioned by a judge about a 1986 prison massacre of suspected guerrillas by state security forces during his first term as president, from 1985-1990.

More than 100 suspected Maoist guerrillas were killed at El Fronton, the island prison off the coast of Lima on June 19 1986 when marines were sent in to quell an insurrection.

''The President has arrived at the Petroperu building, he is there being questioned as a witness by a judge handling the case of the killings at El Fronton,'' a spokesman at Peru's state government palace told Reuters by telephone yesterday.

Garcia, members of his first government and former military personnel and officers have been questioned about the massacre since sporadic investigations began following the killings.

In 2004 Peru's top court ordered a full judicial investigation into the massacre, but it was not immediately if Garcia's questioning yesterday was part of that investigation.

The questioning of Garcia began at 0830 hrs (1860 ist) and the spokesman said at 1000 hrs (2030 ist) that he was still there.

The killings by Peruvian armed forces trying to quell riots stirred up by Shining Path rebels was one of the darkest periods in former President Alan Garcia's 1985-1990 rule. The massacres have never been fully investigated, but Garcia has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Garcia was elected to a second term as president in June last year.

REUTERS MS KP0850