Colombia drugs link to Peru scandal

Colombian troops killed Pablo Escobar in 1993 clash

The public prosecutor in Peru has ordered an investigation into allegations that President Alberto Fujimori's first presidential campaign in 1989 was partly financed by Colombian drugs money.

The late Colombian drugs baron Pablo Escobar, killed in a shoot out with Colombian forces in 1993, gave the fugitive Peruvian intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos $1 million in 1989 towards Mr Fujimori's campaign, Mr Escobar's brother told a Colombian magazine.

My brother Pablo gave money towards Fujimori's first presidential campaign at the end of 1989

Roberto Escobar

Roberto Escobar told the news magazine Cambio that Mr Montesinos "worked with my brother Pablo ... He collaborated substantially in the drugs operations carried out by my brother Pablo in Peru from around 1986 to 1992".

"My brother Pablo gave money towards Fujimori's first presidential campaign at the end of 1989. It was around $1 million that was sent in cash through Mr Montesinos," Mr Escobar said.

Vladimiro Montesinos: unpopular

He was speaking from a clinic in Medellin during treatment for eye damage caused by a letter bomb in 1993 which left him almost blind.

Right hand man

Mr Escobar said that on one occasion, Mr Montesinos had discussed the electoral campaign with his brother by phone, telling him he was going to be "the president's right hand man".

Mr Montesinos is on the run in Peru after returning from an unsuccessful bid to win political asylum in Panama, where he fled after a political bribery scandal which led Mr Fujimori to announce he was leaving power early.

In the mafia, there are never any documents. Everything is word of mouth

Roberto Escobar

Mr Escobar said among his many allegations that Mr Montesinos had "worked for the Medellin [drugs] cartel" and was instrumental in getting many Colombians and Peruvians released from prison.

However, there was no written evidence for his allegations. "In the mafia, there are never any documents, much less for this. Everything is word of mouth. But I have various witnesses that this is the truth and I know many other details which I will reveal in time."

Probe necessary

Public prosecutor Jose Ugaz said that although Mr Fujimori was protected by certain constitutional privileges, the allegations would need to be investigated "as the president has been expressly mentioned".

Fujimori: Pressure mounts

Some Peruvian media have suggested mounting pressure against Mr Fujimori could force him to step down before the early elections called for next April.

The respected El Comercio said Mr Fujimori was "increasingly losing touch, not just with the press but also with public opinion". Even the pro-government Expreso warned that "a dangerous power vacuum has opened up".

Rebel march

Meanwhile, an army officer who mutinied two weeks ago demanding Mr Fujimori's resignation over the Montesinos scandal has announced a march through the mountains to mobilize support.

Mobilize the people to remove the dictator Alberto Fujimori and his gang of delinquents

Lieutenant-Colonel Ollanta Humala

Lieutenant-Colonel Ollanta Humala Tasso is in hiding with a small group of supporters in the Andes of southern Peru after evading a military task force sent to capture him.

The officer reportedly said his march would seek to raise public consciousness and "mobilize the people to remove the dictator Alberto Fujimori and his gang of delinquents".

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.