Heavy sentence urged for American 'guerrilla'

Supporters had hoped charges would be dropped

A senior Peruvian prosecutor is seeking a 20-year sentence for an American woman facing retrial on charges of being a Marxist guerrilla collaborator.

Prosecutor Walter Julian Vivas could have dismissed the case against Lori Berenson for lack of evidence, but a retrial is now expected to commence early in March.

Ms Berenson, 31, was one of thousands of people tried by military judges - whose faces were covered to protect them from reprisals - during former President Alberto Fujimori's crackdown on left-wing rebel groups.

We suspect that when the truth is known, the world will see that Lori is innocent

Mark Berenson

She was convicted in 1996 on charges of being a leader of the Cuban-inspired Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) and helping plan a takeover of Peru's Congress.

However, following years of US pressure, Peru's top military court overturned her conviction last August and granted a new trial by a civilian court.

Fair trial doubts

The court ordered that she should face retrial on the lesser charge of "terrorist collaboration", saying there was not enough evidence to support the accusation she was a guerrilla leader.

The trial of Ms Berenson and others has been condemned by human rights groups, including Amnesty International who described it as "a parody of justice".

Ms Berenson's parents have also expressed doubt their daughter would get a fair civilian trial in where courts are dogged by allegations of corruption and political influence.

When told of the retrial, Ms Berenson's father, said: "Naturally, we're disappointed."

"We know that if there is a trial, she will at least have a chance to give her point of view... we suspect that when the truth is known, the world will see that Lori is innocent," said Mark Berenson.

No interference

Peru's interim president, Valentin Paniagua, who replaced Mr Fujimori after Congress sacked the ex-leader amid corruption scandals, has said his government will not interfere in the case.

Following her conviction, Ms Berenson spent three years at a high-security jail in the Andes before being transferred to a lower-security unit in southern Peru after her health deteriorated.

She is now being held in a top-security jail in Lima.