MEXICO: TALKS BETWEEN GUATEMALAN REBELS AND OFFICIALS CONTINUE

(22 Jun 1996) Spanish/Nat Rebels and government officials from Guatemala are continuing their U-N mediated talks in Mexico in an attempt to end Central America's last and longest war. Civilian groups have urged that the powerful Guatemalan military shouldn't be so involved in politics and should be made more accountable. Delegates from both the Guatemalan government and rebels gathered in Mexico for the start of these U-N-led talks on Friday. Talks on the future role of Guatemala's military are considered critical in persuading the country's National Revolutionary Unity rebels to lay down their arms for good. Before calling a unilateral cease-fire earlier this year, the left-wing guerrillas fought a series of rightist governments for more than three decades. More than 140-thousand people are believed to have died in the fighting. While both sides seemed optimistic they would soon reach a consensus on the military's role, no final agreement is expected during this round of talks which ends on Sunday. SOUNDBITE: Spanish "This meeting will deal with issues that will set the basis for the construction of true institutions in Guatemala." SUPER CAPTION: Rolando Moran, URNG (Guatemalan Rebel) A United Nations representative expressed high hopes for the talks, which it has guided since 1994. The U-N has been pushing for a definitive peace accord by September. Guatemala, with a population nearing 11 (m) million spends about one percent of its gross domestic product on defence, with more than 44-thousand active troops. Army officials would not immediately respond to demands that it should be scaled down and limited to external defence. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...