Peruvian TV boss admits bias deal

Mr Montesinos has gone to ground

The extent of presidential control of the Peruvian media under former President Alberto Fujimori is coming to light.

The director of a Peruvian television channel has admitted to signing a $9m deal with the now disgraced former intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, to give favourable coverage to Mr Fujimori in the channel's output.

Jose Francisco Crousillat, director of America Television, allegedly agreed to give Mr Montesinos control over programming during the presidential electoral campaign, local media reports say.

Mr Fujimori is accused of hiding money

Mr Crousillat also said the government had imposed output restrictions on other media, in order to secure the president's re-election.

A Peruvian television programme highlighted a number of contracts allegedly signed between top television executives and the former intelligence chief.

But the report failed to reveal the identity of the other television executives involved.

'Vladivideos'

The new findings have shocked a nation already immersed in scandals.

Peru has been reeling under daily broadcasts of "Vladivideos" showing leading politicians in conversation with Mr Montesinos and Mr Fujimori.

The latest tapes of Mr Montesinos' secretly filmed meetings with Peru's elite, reveal the former intelligence chief plotting against political opponents with one of Peru's top bankers and boasting of his influence over television news programmes.

Mr Montesinos, who is known in Peru as ''the doctor'', left around 700 videos in his apartment when he fled the country in September.

Immunity

But only a few of "Vladivideos" - many apparently showing high-ranking officials accepting bribes - have so far come to light.

Many Peruvians celebrated when Mr Fujimori resigned

The bribery scandal involving Mr Montesinos led to the downfall late last year of President Fujimori.

Mr Montesinos, a close ally of Mr Fujimori, is wanted on charges ranging from money laundering to illegal arms dealing.

Last week, a congressional committee in Peru voted to charge Mr Fujimori with abandoning his post, bringing him one step nearer to losing parliamentary immunity from prosecution.