The World - News from Feb. 19, 1988

Nine guerrillas and three government soldiers were killed in fighting in a small town in northern El Salvador, while guerrilla sabotage left more than 60% of the nation without electricity, the armed forces reported. The attacks came on the third day of a new offensive by rebels of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. The military press office said that a large rebel column attacked army positions in Laguna, Chalatenango province, and that fighting lasted about five hours before the guerrillas retreated. The rebels launched a series of attacks across the country Tuesday night to protest scheduled March elections they say will not solve the nation’s real problems.