March 22, 2002	Friday	Muharram 7, 1423

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LIMA (Peru), March 21: Two powerful car bombs exploded on Wednesday night near the US embassy in Lima, killing nine people, three days before a visit here by US President George W. Bush.

Peruvian Vice President Raul Diez Canseco, upgraded the death toll from six to nine and said more than 30 people had been injured. President Alejandro Toledo cut short a visit to Monterrey, Mexico, where he was to attend a UN-sponsored conference against poverty, and was flying back to Peru, the vice president said.

Interior Minister Fernando Rospigliosi said one of the fatalities was a police officer who was inspecting one of the suspicious vehicles. Police said a private security guard at the US embassy was also killed. His nationality was not given.—AFP