Andahuaylas, Peru — The leader of an armed nationalist group that seized a remote Peruvian police station, took 10 officers hostage and allegedly killed four others was detained and most of his 125 followers were rounded up early Tuesday, officials said. Former army major Antauro Humala is in custody after turning himself in to National Police chief Felix Murazzo at this town's municipal building, a government spokeswoman told Associated Press. She said about 90 of his followers also laid down their arms and were turning themselves in. "He came with the idea of surrendering himself but a group of his followers weren't in agreement," the Interior Ministry spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity.A rebel reached by the Peruvian radio station Radioprogramas said Humala "was betrayed" by the government negotiators who arrested him. The man, who said he was the group's new commander, told Radioprogramas that the remaining rebels wanted to negotiate a surrender but did not trust the government. "We simply want to discuss the terms of laying down our arms, nothing more," he said. "Yesterday, two of our reservists were killed by army sharpshooters," four of whom he said were captured by the rebels. He said the International Red Cross was the only mediator the group could trust "to provide sufficient guarantees for us to leave here on our feet." About 35 gunmen remained barricaded in the station as police surrounded the building late Monday, the ministry spokeswoman said. "It appears they are angry, and some of them have been drinking." Police ordered reporters into a nearby hotel and soon after the crackle of automatic gunfire could be heard outside.
The standoff began Saturday when the gunmen took over the police station in this Andean town, about 445 kilometres southeast of Lima. Five police officers were wounded and 10 others were taken hostage. A day later, authorities said, the group ambushed a police vehicle, killing four officers and wounding several others. A gunman was fatally wounded in the attack, local media reported. The group, which wants to establish a nationalist indigenous movement modelled on the ancient Incan Empire, has demanded the resignation of President Alejandro Toledo, accusing him of selling out Peru to business interests in Chile, a historic rival.