The World - News from June 10, 1987

More than three tons of weapons and equipment air-dropped to U.S.-backed contras in southeastern Nicaragua was captured by government forces, Managua said. The cache, according to Sandinista officials, included about 70 Soviet-made rifles, about 50,000 cartridges, medicines, knives, clothing and other items. The material was dropped to the rebels on Saturday from a C-47 aircraft, officials said, and was captured in a battle with the rebels Sunday in the Niagra area of Zelaya province, about 150 miles southeast of Managua. Fifteen rebels were killed in the fighting, army officials said.