Lima- Four police officers were killed in the northern Peruvian province of Huanuco, allegedly by members of the extreme-left rebel group Shining Path working in the service of drug gangs, Peruvian media reported Thursday citing the authorities.

The attack happened Wednesday, just three days after US President George W Bush, Chinese leader Hu Jintao, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, among many other leaders, visited the country for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Lima  - The 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic- Cooperation (APEC) forum meeting Saturday in Lima focused on the need to restore confidence and contain the long-term impact that the global financial crisis is having on the region.

Leaders including US President George W Bush, Chinese leader Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a statement after the start of their two-day meeting.

The document repeated large portions of the G20 declaration issued last week in Washington, where nine APEC members took part.

Leaders in Lima noted that they discussed "the actions APEC members are taking, individually and collectively, to restore confidence" and to keep the region "on a path of long-term growth."

Lima  - The annual Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum was formally opened Saturday in Lima.

Peruvian President Alan Garcia made brief remarks to praise the "vision" of APEC's founders to anticipate the "economic fate" of the world.

Then he asked reporters to leave the room as the leaders of the organization's 21 economies, sitting at a round table, went about discussing behind closed doors the current economic and financial crisis, among other issues.

The meeting took place in the so-called "Pentagonito," the small Pentagon, as the Peruvian Army Headquarters in the San Borja district of Lima are known locally.

Lima - The annual Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum was formally opened Saturday in Lima.

Peruvian President Alan Garcia made brief remarks to praise the "vision" of APEC's founders to anticipate the "economic fate" of the world.

Then he asked reporters to leave the room as the leaders of the organization's 21 economies, sitting at a round table, went about discussing behind closed doors the current economic and financial crisis, among other issues.

Lima  - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a staunch, unqualified defence of free trace Saturday in Lima, as he adressed business leaders ahead of the annual Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

"Now is a time to open doors, not to erect walls," Harper said.

Lima  - US President George W Bush said Saturday in Lima that the governments of industrialized nations "have to keep their promises to the developing world," even in time of crisis.

Speaking to business leaders ahead of the 16th annual Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Peru, Bush - set to leave the White House in January after eight years in office - noted that the benefits of free trade "are beyond doubt."