Flu delays Fujimori return

Police face anti-Fujimori protesters in the capital Lima

Peru's embattled President Alberto Fujimori has extended his stay in Japan for "health reasons" amid speculation that he will seek asylum.

Mr Fujimori arrived in Japan after a brief stop at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in Brunei.

Mr Fujimori says he will return to Peru but has not said when

On Friday he announced he was pulling out of a summit of Latin American leaders in Panama this weekend, saying he was continuing contacts with Japanese economic officials.

Then on Saturday the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Mr Fujimori was extending his stay in Japan after being taken ill with flu.

Peru's Prime Minister Federico Salas later said Mr Fujimori would stay in Japan until 22 November as meetings with economic officials continued.

Mr Fujimori - who is coming under mounting pressure in Peru to resign - has denied rumours that he will seek asylum in Asia.

Bribery scandal

A bribery scandal involving Mr Fujimori's fugitive ex-spy chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, plunged Peru into political crisis two months ago, prompting the president to announce he would quit in July after elections in April, four years early.

He suffered a new blow on Thursday when Peru's opposition took over the powerful presidency of congress for the first time in eight years, further eroding his grip on power and opening the way for possible moves to oust him.

After the bribery scandal became public, Mr Montesinos fled to Panama, then returned after failing to be granted asylum, and has now vanished.

Peru's attorney-general is also investigating reports that Mr Fujimori indirectly received election funds from slain Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar.