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Peru's Defense Minister denies unauthorized presence of U.S. troops in jungle

(LIP-ir) -- Peru's Minster of Defense, Ántero Flores-Aráoz, denied claims made by Ollanta Humala, a left-leaning nationalist politician, that there were U.S. military troops in Peru's jungle without the proper authorization.

"I don't know where he has gotten that from. There is no foreign or U.S. military personnel in our country. There is a constant relationship with the DEA to fight drug trafficking but there are no troops at the time," said the minister of defense.

Humala, who did not have any concrete evidence to support the accusations he was making, made the claims once again Monday morning, assuring that he had been given the information by Peruvian troops stationed in Iquitos, a city in the Andean country's jungle.

The authorization to carry out missions that involve Peru's armed forces and foreign military personnel are always published in El Peruano, the country's official gazette, explained Minister Flores-Aráoz.

Several congressional representatives labeled Humala's claims as irresponsible, stating he did not have a basis for the accusations he was making.

"The accusations made are not irresponsible at all, what is irresponsible is that this information is not clarified," said Humala in a radio interview.

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# greg says :
1 April, 2008 [ 06:01 ]

Humala...what an idiot statement. Just another example of wild accuasations without basis.  Another irresponsible act by a selfish individual who want to divide the country instead of unit it. Always blaming someone else for his failures.

# Splaktar says :
1 April, 2008 [ 13:24 ]

I fully agree with the above statement by greg.  Claims without evidence should not even be published in the news other than just to point out the complete ignorance of Humala and others like him.

# Jet says :
2 April, 2008 [ 05:36 ]

This man Humala...... he constantly shows his true colors.  He needs attention one way or another.  Since he is so resentful that he lost the elections, he always seems to resort to the absolute absurd in order to get whatever attention he can.  What is it about these leftist/communist "little dictators" that they all seem to have peter pan syndrome? lol
Maybe if someone would read him a bed time story or something along those lines he would quit acting so childish? haha. 
Quit trying to cause problems and devide the country. Grow up a little bit, and do something constructive to help your country.   I know it's hard, but try to think in someone else for once instead of just your own selfish interests!