Peru's Shining Path chief denies he was captured

LIMA, Peru (AP) -- The leader of Peru's once-powerful Shining Path rebel group denies he was captured by police and soldiers.

Authorities say the rebel commander known as Comrade Artemio was captured along with two of his confederates on Feb. 12 after he was shot by an infiltrator.

Artemio, however, told a panel of judges on Wednesday he turned himself over to authorities. His given name is Florindo "Jose" Flores.

The rebel leader is facing terrorism, drug trafficking and other charges. He has pleaded innocent to those charges.

Artemio is being held at the same maximum security prison where Shining Path founder Abimael Guzman has been held since his 1992 capture.

Shining Path waged a bloody war against the state but largely collapsed following Guzman's capture.

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