Seven people died at a Communist-organised working men's club in Montevideo on Monday (17 April) as police hunted two suspected Tupamaros left-wing guerrillas in the Uruguayan capital.

Police were following the two suspects in a car early Monday when the guerrillas suddenly made for the slub. In the shooting which followed, seven people were killed. According to police, gunfire was returned from to club.

Since last Saturday (15 April), Uruguay has been under a 30-day "state of internal war", as the government makes an all-out effort to combat the Tupamaros. Police and troops have been given wider powers to fight the upswing of violence which, on Friday (14 April), cost the lives of a former deputy Minister of the Interior, a naval captain on security duties and two police officials.