Toledo registers as Peru presidential candidate

The main opposition leader in Peru, Alejandro Toledo, has formally registered his candidacy for presidential elections which are scheduled to take place in April.

The elections are being held to choose a successor to Alberto Fujimori, who was dismissed in November by congress after being engulfed in a corruption scandal.

Mr Toledo, who's ahead in the opinion polls, stood against Mr Fujimori in elections last year, but later withdrew amid allegations of fraud. Other candidates who registered before a midnight deadline, at 0500GMT, include Peru's former human rights ombudsman, Jorge Santistevan.

On Monday, the disgraced former president, Alan Garcia, announced he was standing.

It follows assurances from the government that corruption charges against him were being dropped.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service