Peru congress delays Fujimori vote

Members of congress in Peru have delayed a vote on whether to strip the disgraced former president, Alberto Fujimori, of his parliamentary immunity from prosecution.

Congress has been considering charges of dereliction of duty against Mr Fujimori, who fled to Japan last November after his government was engulfed in a corruption scandal.

He tried to fax his resignation from Tokyo but was instead dismissed on grounds of being morally unfit to govern.

If his immunity is lifted, he could face criminal charges.

Mr Fujimori has denied any wrongdoing and says he won't return to Peru because he fears for his safety. Congress also voted to extend for another two months a congressional inquiry into Mr Fujimori's former intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service